600 new jobs at Jaguar Land Rover

The company, now owned by Indian conglomerate Tata, said it would focus its recruitment campaign on engineers “to work on exciting new technology and product development programmes”. There are also a significant number of key vacancies in purchasing, finance and human resources, a statement added. Jaguar Land Rover said it was investing £700 million in sustainable technologies to improve the environmental performance of its vehicles and is looking for experienced, degree educated engineers to work within the product development function on a variety of ground-breaking projects. A new graduate programme is also being initiated for over 80 graduates to join the business in September. Graduates will participate in a number of activities and events over their two year development period while at the same time integrating themselves into their chosen department. As the business settles down under its new ownership, Jaguar is reporting a surge in worldwide sales thanks in part to the award winning XF saloon (pictured) and Land Rover, which has achieved three successive years of record sales, has recently revealed the LRX Concept to some acclaim. Newly appointed Jaguar Land Rover CEO David Smith said the recruitment drive demonstrated JLR's confidence in its future. “With our new owners, we have entered an exciting era with stunning new models and ambitious technologies. I can't remember a better time to be part of the British car industry, and certainly it is a brilliant time for Jaguar Land Rover," he went on. “Sustainability is a business imperative and we need both experienced and newly qualified graduate engineers to progress the technology projects of the future." HR director Des Thurlby said the recruitment drive was already up and running and would be targeting a number of different employment sectors to attract top quality candidates. “We shall also be working through a variety of channels from press advertisements to the graduate milkround, and a new dedicated recruitment website, he explained. “The work on offer is cutting-edge and the rewards impressive. This business has a bright future and we think it will be a very attractive place to work for the best in our industry here in the UK." The latest recruitment announcement follows previous employment initiatives. In March, JLR launched a campaign to recruit over 60 apprentices to join its Advanced Modern Apprenticeship Scheme. The company also reported “a tremendous response” to its requirement for 25 undergraduates for the company’s product development industrial and vacation placements programme. JLR currently employs some 16,000 people, mainly in the UK, including 3,500 engineers at two product development centres in Whitley, Coventry and Gaydon, Warwickshire, and the remainder at its production facilities at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, Halewood, Liverpool, and Solihull.