JLR to hire staff in UK as Ford, GM Holden plan to shut plants

The Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover has launched its first significant campaign to recruit  1400 employees at its new state-of-the-art engine manufacturing centre at the i54 South Staffordshire business park near Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, UK.

Under the first phase around 600 manufacturing roles would be created at the plant in the next four years.

JLR has lined up investment of over £500 million ($1 billion) at its new engine manufacturing centre to get the engine supply back to its production doorstep, providing significant new resources for supporting continued innovation.

The roles would be required to support the manufacture of the company's new family of high-technology, low-emission engines. The workers would be responsible for the assembly of engine components, operating the plant's  manufacturing equipment, supporting tool changes and for material line feed.

Trevor Leeks, the centre's new operations director, said the company's new engine manufacturing centre was significant for Jaguar Land Rover's global growth ambitions and it was critical that the company had a world-class manufacturing team at the heart of its new plant.

Meanwhile the company yesterday reported a 22-per cent increase in India sales last year at 2,913 units.

According to the company, launching of new models, strengthening of dealership network and customer engagement initiatives helped boost sales growth.

JLR India, vice president, Rohit Suri said, a rising number of discerning class of individuals in the entrepreneurial, executive and professional segments had helped in the growth.

He added, a strong dealer network focused on providing one of the best after sales service support in the business and high resale value commanded by Jaguar and Land Rover cars was making customers comeback for repeat purchases already.

In 2013, under the Jaguar umbrella, the company had launched the Jaguar XF with 2.2 litre diesel engine followed by a 2.0 litre petrol engine variant and sports car F-Type.

In the Land Rover range, the company launched the all new Range Rover Sport.

Included in the product portfolio of the company are Jaguar XJ, Jaguar XF, Jaguar XK, Jaguar F-TYPE, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Evoque, Discovery 4 and Freelander 2.