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Jaguar Land Rover to create 700 new jobs at i54 plant | Jaguar Land Rover to create 700 new jobs at i54 plant |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Jaguar Land Rover is to invest a further £150m to double the size of its unfinished engine plant in the West Midlands, creating 700 additional jobs. | Jaguar Land Rover is to invest a further £150m to double the size of its unfinished engine plant in the West Midlands, creating 700 additional jobs. |
The company aims to raise the eventual number of jobs on the i54 business park on the Staffordshire-Wolverhampton border to more than 1,400. | The company aims to raise the eventual number of jobs on the i54 business park on the Staffordshire-Wolverhampton border to more than 1,400. |
The first engines are scheduled to come off the production line in 2015. | The first engines are scheduled to come off the production line in 2015. |
Jaguar Land Rover's initial plans set out in 2011 were for a £355m investment and nearly 750 jobs. | Jaguar Land Rover's initial plans set out in 2011 were for a £355m investment and nearly 750 jobs. |
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which has its headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, said total investment at the i54 site would now be more than £500m. | Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which has its headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, said total investment at the i54 site would now be more than £500m. |
The company has also announced spending of £2.75bn on further product development. | The company has also announced spending of £2.75bn on further product development. |
Executive director Mike Wright said i54 was a major part of the company's long term plans. | Executive director Mike Wright said i54 was a major part of the company's long term plans. |
"Since the original announcement was made in 2011 we've been able to look at our plans, look at potential for our products around the world and as a result of that analysis we've decided to put even more capacity into the engine manufacturing centre, invest more money and create more jobs," he said. | "Since the original announcement was made in 2011 we've been able to look at our plans, look at potential for our products around the world and as a result of that analysis we've decided to put even more capacity into the engine manufacturing centre, invest more money and create more jobs," he said. |
'Vote of confidence' | 'Vote of confidence' |
The firm reported a 30% increase in global sales last year, selling 357,773 vehicles to 177 different countries. | The firm reported a 30% increase in global sales last year, selling 357,773 vehicles to 177 different countries. |
Sales in the Chinese market have risen 80% in the past year, the company said. | Sales in the Chinese market have risen 80% in the past year, the company said. |
Business Secretary Vince Cable said it was "good news for UK manufacturing". | Business Secretary Vince Cable said it was "good news for UK manufacturing". |
It can be said this latest announcement is surprising because the plant is still being built and even before it is finished Jaguar Land Rover wants to make it bigger. | It can be said this latest announcement is surprising because the plant is still being built and even before it is finished Jaguar Land Rover wants to make it bigger. |
But it reflects the recent fortunes in the company. Demand is increasing from areas like China and JLR obviously feels confident it needs a bigger workforce to deal with it. | But it reflects the recent fortunes in the company. Demand is increasing from areas like China and JLR obviously feels confident it needs a bigger workforce to deal with it. |
This year alone it says it is bringing out another eight versions of existing models. | This year alone it says it is bringing out another eight versions of existing models. |
There is always a debate whether these are "real" jobs or not. JLR tends to take on staff on a temporary basis to start with for their first year and they then move to a one-year contract. After that time they are made permanent. | There is always a debate whether these are "real" jobs or not. JLR tends to take on staff on a temporary basis to start with for their first year and they then move to a one-year contract. After that time they are made permanent. |
There is an argument about why not make them permanent from day one, but for the company it helps them to keep track of demand in the market. | There is an argument about why not make them permanent from day one, but for the company it helps them to keep track of demand in the market. |
"With 2.5 million engines produced in this country last year, the UK has established a reputation as a leading global engine manufacturer," he said. | "With 2.5 million engines produced in this country last year, the UK has established a reputation as a leading global engine manufacturer," he said. |
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the news was a "fantastic boost for manufacturing". | Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said the news was a "fantastic boost for manufacturing". |
"This is a massive vote of confidence in the skills of the UK workforce. | "This is a massive vote of confidence in the skills of the UK workforce. |
"JLR's investment will generate quality jobs in the West Midlands and is a much-needed shot in the arm for Britain's struggling manufacturing sector," he said. | "JLR's investment will generate quality jobs in the West Midlands and is a much-needed shot in the arm for Britain's struggling manufacturing sector," he said. |
Ninder Johal from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said: "Jaguar Land Rover didn't come to the Black Country because they felt like it, they came here for a specific reason, the skills are here, the supply chain is here and logistically it's easy to get your products in and out." | Ninder Johal from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce said: "Jaguar Land Rover didn't come to the Black Country because they felt like it, they came here for a specific reason, the skills are here, the supply chain is here and logistically it's easy to get your products in and out." |
Unemployment figures showed that about 12,500 people are claiming job seekers allowance in Wolverhampton. | |
Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, Pat McFadden, said the investment could put "a real dent" in those figures. | |
"I think this is a challenge for the city to make sure that we are producing people equipped to take advantage of this investment. | |
"If you talk to local employers they do talk about skill shortages but this should be the thing that galvanises us to address any lack of readiness of the local workforce." | |
Staffordshire County Council is investing £18.5m to build a dedicated road junction on the M54 for access to the plant, which will be matched by investment from Wolverhampton City Council. | Staffordshire County Council is investing £18.5m to build a dedicated road junction on the M54 for access to the plant, which will be matched by investment from Wolverhampton City Council. |
A joint statement by the two councils and South Staffordshire Council said thousands more jobs would be created for the supply chain. | A joint statement by the two councils and South Staffordshire Council said thousands more jobs would be created for the supply chain. |
"We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover is strengthening its commitment to the i54 South Staffordshire site before construction of the main facility has even been completed," they said. | "We are delighted that Jaguar Land Rover is strengthening its commitment to the i54 South Staffordshire site before construction of the main facility has even been completed," they said. |