New WM jobs from Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is to create more than 2,000 jobs after they announced that they will be opening a major new engine plant in Wolverhampton’s i54 business park.

JLR, a major West Midlands employer with headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and plants in Castle Bromwich (Jaguar) and Solihull (Land Rover), made the announcement today alongside the Business Secretary Vince Cable.

The i54 is one of the government’s coveted new Enterprise Zones, and it is estimated that the new JLR plant will take around two years, and £355 million, to complete.

The government is supporting the investment with a £10 million support package.

“There was fierce competition for this engine plant,” Mr Cable said. “Tata [the Indian owners of JLR] could have done it in India, they could have done it in various places.

“But they’ve chosen to invest in Britain and in the West Midlands, which we take as a great sign of confidence.”

According to the Birmingham Mail, the engines are currently produced by Ford in Dagenham and Bridgend. However, with increasing fortunes, particularly in the Asian market, the company is seeking to take more control over its manufacturing.

JLR currently employs almost 21,000 nationwide, and has hired 3,000 employees so far this year. According to the Daily Telegraph, the new plant could eventually employ up to 2,000 people, with a local supply chain adding another 1,200 jobs.

“The most important way in which it can act as a catalyst for other investments is through the supply chain,” Mr Cable said.

“There is something in the order of 15,000 direct employees of Tata but they bring with them about 140,000 employees in the supply chain.

“What we want to see is companies that might recently have migrated out of Britain because of problems in the country in recent years coming back here and making components for these new car plants in Britain.”

The government is seeking to encourage companies back to Britain after the recent economic problems, and this will be seen as a major boost to their economic policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg added “Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to build its new engine plant in Wolverhampton is fantastic news.

“It means over 700 new jobs for local people, an investment of over £300 million in the West Midlands and recognition of the expertise in the British workforce and manufacturing sector.

“Growing our economy has to be the number one priority for Britain, and the Government is not sitting on its hands. With initiatives like the Regional Growth Fund, putting up to £10 million into this new plant and Enterprise Zones boosting growth across the country, we’re making the UK a better place to invest and do business.”