Lend Lease was appointed main contractor on the £70m scheme last September.

Construction work will continue until 2015 during a 27 month build programme.

Balfour operations director Geoff Ritzema told The Journal: “BBES are delighted to be involved in such a prestigious project which will be run from our local office on Cobalt Business Park.

“BBES has had offices in the north east area for over 70 years with all of our staff, electrical, mechanical and labour coming from the local area.

“Our works will commence during June 2013 and we expect to peak at a labour figure of approximately 150 operatives.

“This labour force will be drawn from the local area with recruitment expected.

“Main packages such as Air Handling Plant, Electrical Switchgear and numerous subcontracts will also be sourced from the north east region.”

Owen Pugh, of Dudley, near Cramlington, has also won a contract worth £700,000 to do bulk excavation and civil engineering works on the site.

Owen Pugh chairman John Dickson said: “We have taken on 14 new employees in the last six months, some of whom were unemployed, so we feel we are doing our bit to help beat the recession by giving jobs to local people.

“We are delighted to be involved in this venture that will not only help the local economy but will also provide a fantastic emergency care hospital for the people of the area.”

Owen Pugh Construction is currently tendering for further subcontract work on the site to provide footpaths, hard standings and car parks.

Jim Mackey, chief executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is good news for the local area, I am delighted that in the process of building a fantastic new hospital for our patients, we are also helping people in the area by providing much needed jobs.”