Two Warwickshire construction firms are on the growth trail after winning substantial new contracts.

Ashford, which employs 150 people at its base in Coleshill has taken on a raft of new recruits to help it fulfil more than £6 million of new orders.

Meanwhile Willmott Dixon - which also has an office in the town - has landed additional work valued at £11 million from Sandwell Council.

The firm yesterday confirmed that it had been appointed to build a new school and modernise a second in the Black Country borough.

The largest project is Summerhill Primary School in Tipton, costing £6.5 million, which involves building a modern school on a new site to replace two existing ones that are being closed and merged.

Willmott Dixon will also modernise another primary school - The Priory in Wednesbury - with the construction of a replacement school in a project totalling £4.5 million.

As well as the new learning facilities, the school will also get a 'Sure Start' facility for pre-school children.

The latest projects follow a successful partnership that has seen Willmott Dixon build one of the UK's only dedicated new-build special educational needs schools, called The Orchard.

It is regarded as a showcase for a modern SEN with facilities that include classrooms with hydraulic and fixed desks, two hydrotherapy pools, a sports hall, therapy rooms, a dark room, white room, soft play area and extensive medical facilities.

Meanwhile Ashford said it was on course for achieving turnover of £80 million after winning £6 million of new work.

This was in addition to £ 20 million of projects already being carried out by the parent company Old House Holdings.

To help fulfil its order book, the firm has recruited Ian Phillips as site manager on their Eagle Centre project in Derby.

The £1.3 million shopping centre redevelopment is due to begin shortly, while a £3 million car components factory in Burton for St Modwen and Prologis is also imminent.

Ashford is also about to start work on a £7.8 million development in Witton, Birmingham, for Boultbee.

Richard Gray also joins the team as quantity surveyor, having previously worked for Mowlem.

Ben Payne has joined Ashford Special Projects based at Coventry Innovation Village, having previously worked on Ashford's site at Tipton.

Adrian Shipley and Justin De-Vere join the Marco Island residential project in Nottingham, as finishing foremen.

The development of a site at George Street in Birmingham for David Wilson Urban Revival has been boosted by the addition of Simon Stone, who joins from Crest Nicholson as assistant site manager.

On the Temple Point project in Birmingham city centre, Glyn Allen has joined as senior engineer, and Carl Gaunt arrives as design and build coordinator.

Julian Gold completes the team at Temple Point as senior site manager, having joined Ashford from Thomas Vale.

Andy Clarke has signed on from Pettifer Construction, and is involved as project manager on current and future 3663 projects, along with Ian Marchant, also based at 3663 at Cannock, who joins the team from Weaver Construction.

John Barfield, senior planner, switches from Gleesons and Steve Vale joins as quantity surveyor.

Paul Davies rejoins the firm as senior site manager after having spent five years in Australia.