JLR launches drive to recruit 1,700 at Solihull

The first phase will recruit more than 500 semi-skilled production operators to support the production of new vehicles, reflecting the significant growth and expansion plans for its Solihull site. The announcement was made in the same week that Prime Minister David Cameron visited the Jaguar Land Rover engine manufacturing centre in Wolverhampton, which is currently under construction. The Prime Minister said, "Whenever I come to one of your plants, it makes my spirits soar when I see such an exciting future for British manufacturing. Everywhere I go in the world I support Jaguar Land Rover. This is a great British success story." The addition of 1,700 new workers will be conducted in three phases to support future growth and investment plans on site. The remaining two recruitment phases will open later this year and early in 2015, taking the site's headcount to almost 8,000. All new recruits will undertake a structured training programme, reinforcing the organisation's commitment to expanding its skills base. Alan Volkaerts, operations director at Jaguar Land Rover, said, "To continue producing award winning vehicles and investing in world-class manufacturing technology, we need to source the best people. Our recruitment drive reinforces our commitment to the UK automotive industry which also benefits the wider supply chain and overall UK economy."