Sir James Dyson, the billionaire businessman and pioneer of vacuum cleaner will double the number of engineers and scientists in its UK-based research and development department.

Dyson will increase the number of engineers and scientists from 350 to 700 under its expansion plan.

The new recruitments will be at company's headquarters in Malmesbury, where 1,300 staff is already working.

The new recruits will be given salary of £45,000 a year for working on the next generation of Dyson products.

They will also be working for the development of digital electric motor technology. The recent products include Air blade high intensity hand-dryer and air multiplier desk fan.

By making links with the universities of Newcastle, Southampton and Cambridge, the company is planning to extend the placement of students.

With the sale £628m, the profit of Dyson increases to £90m in 2008.

Sir James Dyson said, “We employ 2,500 in total. By taking on another 350 engineers in the UK, our operations will be employing more than 1,600 people as we take on the people we need to grow our intellectual property rights and products.