A total of 67 new jobs have been created by oil and gas service company Howco Group plc.

The positions have been made at its Ayrshire engineering division following an investment of £7.5m.

The firm, which specialises in the provision of specialised steels and equipment for the buoyant oil and gas sector, has expansion plans which are being supported by Japanese parent company, Sumitomo Corporation and a £750,000 Regional Selective Assistance grant from Scottish Enterprise.

The multi-million pound investment will bring the total number of Scottish jobs across the company's Aberdeen, Cumbernauld, Glasgow and Irvine sites to more than 360 and will see an additional 2,000 sq metres of factory space established in order to accommodate Howco's international growth plans.

As a major local employer, the company has said it is committed to opening up youth employment opportunities through the Modern Apprenticeship Programme to ensure a readily available supply of skills for Scotland's future oil and gas industry. Currently, it employs nine apprentices at its Scottish sites and is understood to be in discussions to increase this by a further eight placements.

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Visiting Howco's manufacturing facility on Tuesday, Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, said: "The creation of this number of highly skilled jobs is excellent news for North Ayrshire.

"I am delighted that Howco are investing more than £7 million to allow them to improve their facilities here, as well as expand to their new site nearby.

"This is a tribute to the success of the team here at the Drybridge site, supported and enabled by Scottish Enterprise, and North Ayrshire Council.

"The fact that the company is so supportive of training by offering apprenticeships is also to be welcomed.

"The record investment being made in the oil and gas sector, of which Howco is part, points to a bright and healthy future for the industry for decades to come."

Steve Hoggan, Manufacturing Director at Howco added: "Our primary market in the oil and gas sector is forecast to grow strongly over the next three to five years, both in the UK and overseas.

"Our worldwide reputation as market leaders places us in a strong position to capture a share of that growth and by investing in our facilities and our workforce we can maintain and grow our market share.

"With the additional capacity from the project, we anticipate turnover almost doubling within the next five years."

(JP)