Hitachi is seeking candidates who display its values of respect to fill 600 remaining jobs at a new train manufacturing facility in Durham.

The firm is using social media and its own careers site to fill the roles, with applicants with transferable skills also being considered. 

Earlier this month Recruiter reported Hitachi is to create 700 jobs at the facility, with the first train set to enter service in 2017.

Commenting on the progress the firm has made with its recruitment drive, Julia Potts, the facility’s HR manager, told Recruiter 110 people have already been hired through posting vacancies on LinkedIn and on the firm’s career site, with applications managed on Hitachi’s Taleo candidate management system.

Potts explained the firm is seeking admin staff and manufacturing specialists, senior professional engineers, as well as semi-skilled engineers, and engineering and admin apprentices. All recruits are provided with additional training in Hitachi train building. Semi-skilled engineers would need to have transferable skills, such as motor mechanics, fitters or electricians, Potts added.

Successful candidates would also need to demonstrate values and behaviours that are aligned with the ethos of the Hitachi company, Potts said.

“Our Hitachi philosophy is we’re looking for people who can work in collaboration. We want a respectful environment, we want people to respect each other and treat each other well.

“You might be in a high pressure environment but we want a good environment for people to work in.”

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