Thetford-based cleaning products manufacturer Jeyes is creating 51 new jobs at its Norfolk factory after investing �1m in the site.

The manufacturer of Jeyes Fluid, Bloo and Parozone is looking to add 30 staff to its base on Brunel Way to join the 20 new staff employed at the end of last year.

The EDP Top 100 firm has bolstered its Norfolk workforce after production lines were relocated to Thetford from its factory in north Wales, which was closed as part of a strategic review that sparked the loss of 117 jobs.

Meanwhile, the firm will also decide at the end of this month whether to enforce plans to axe 108 positions and move production from its factory in East Kilbride, Scotland.

And the company estimates that the consolidation projects will cause its turnover drop to between �75m and �80m this year – down from �90m last year.

Paula Bryan, group HR manager for Jeyes, said the firm was committed to its Thetford factory, which employs 250 staff, and plans to plough further investment into the site this year.

She said the new jobs will include operator roles within the factory, as well as people who have the experience to manage supervisiory roles.

'We have invested in machinery, equipment, and modernising the factory as well as investing in transferring lines,' she said.

'The site itself has gone through a lot of change culturally and it will continue to go through change.

'But we have a fantastic work force here and now we want to secure everyone's future. There is a real buzz around here and a real drive to bring Jeyes into the 21st century.'

She added: 'Our ambitions for 2013 are around continuous improvement and cost reduction, as well as continuing to improve the quality of our products.

'We are going to have a massive emphasis on training and development and that is something we are looking to make successful this year, including training and development plans for every employee to help create a multi-skilled workforce.'

In October 2011, the directors undertook a review of the business after London-based private equity firm Legal and General Venture sold its shares to US investment house Strategic Value Partner.

As part of the review, it saw some of its profitable businesses, including its Insect Control business, sold and manufacturing sites and offices in the Czech Republic, France and South East Asia closed.

Jeyes' results in October last year showed the business suffered a �24.4m pre-tax loss over the 16 months to December 2011, but made an operating profit of �4.9m on on-going operations.

The firm received 150 applications when it held a recruitment day in Theford last November, where it took on 21 new staff.

It held a second open day in Thetford yesterday and plans to hold a third at the Park Hotel in Diss on Monday between 2pm and 7pm.