NATIONAL housing repairs company Morrison says it is looking to create hundreds of jobs in the North East after moving into new offices and following a number of new business leads.

London-based Morrison recently moved from its former sites in Birtley and Blaydon to Merlin House in Team Valley, where it has taken the whole of the three-storey building as its new North East headquarters.

The firm said it has been hit by the recession over recent years, but is now looking to grow its £40m “significantly” and is looking at a number of new opportunities, including attracting more work from the region’s social housing providers.

It also said that this could see it adding hundreds of new staff to its 500-strong workforce in the North East.

Morrison provides responsive repairs to homes across the North East, as well as works on large refurbishment contracts, such as the recent Decent Homes programme.

However, the firm said that much of the programme had dried up as councils look to reduce costs, and the firm is now looking to build up relationships with firms in both the private and public sector, some of which is looking to cut down on its own expenditure by outsourcing work.

The firm recently extended its contract with Guinness Northern Counties until 2013, which covers around 1,500 properties in the North East. It has also secured a deal with social landlord Isos Housing to service its properties across the North East.