A very healthy order book at Staffordshire-based JCB will see the construction equipment manufacturer create 600 new jobs in the next three months, with the company needing over 200 operatives immediately — including welders, paint-sprayers and assemblers.

World-wide growth in the construction sector has led to record demand for many of the product lines manufactured at JCB’s Rocester, Cheadle, Rugeley and Foston plants.

JCB’s chief operating officer, Mark Turner, said: “This is great news for the local economy and great news for anyone seeking to work with a globally successful business.

"We know that the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and surrounding towns have people with the skills we need.

We urgently need fabrication welding skills along with paint-sprayers and general assemblers, who will be given full training.

“The opportunities are initially for agency employees, but we see them as long-term opportunities.

In fact, we have given permanent contracts to 200 agency staff in the first three months of 2018.”

In addition to the 600 production line opportunities, JCB has vacancies for more than 100 permanent employees in engineering and other staff professions at sites across the UK.

Further details about the job opportunities can be found at the Web site (www.jcb.com/en-gb/about/careers).