Signs of recovery

One of Newark’s main employers is recruiting for the first time in several years.

Ball-bearing manufacturer NSK is advertising for 20 employees on short-term contracts of up to a year after an upturn in the order books.

Last year the Northern Road-based firm axed 135 in two batches of 87 and 48. It left a workforce of 120.

International demand in the machine tool manufacturing industry, which NSK supplies, was down by up to 70%.

An NSK spokesman said: “There has been some recovery in demand in both the European and global markets and, as a consequence, NSK is looking to take on about 20 people on a temporary basis that could be up to 12 months.

“The posts are being advertised but we are also in the process of contacting all of our former employees informing them that this opportunity exists.

“These are early days and we are not out of the woods but we hope that the green shoots of recovery continue.”