Sunseeker adding 225 manufacturing jobs

Sunseeker International announced Thursday that it is now looking to recruit 225 new skilled staff for its U.K. operations, an increase from the 100 it originally announced last month.

The new employees are necessary to support the introduction of several new models planned for 2016, the company said. Sunseeker plans to fill the positions in the first half of the year, bringing total employment to 2,150.

Sunseeker has laid off several hundred employees over the last few years as it went through a series of financial struggles and ownership change.

The new employees will be based at its manufacturing operations in Dorset and be focused on construction and engineering of the new models.

“We are pleased to announce these recruitment plans which give a clear signal of the positive times ahead at Sunseeker,” said Sunseeker CEO Phil Popham. “We have a clear and robust business plan to invest in long term growth and sustainable success, backed by our majority shareholder Wanda Group whose stable ownership and strong financial backing enables us to plan and invest for the future.”

Boat orders are up 55 percent over the same period last year, Popham added.