JLR launches major recruitment drive

TATA owned Jaguar- Land Rover (JLR) has announced a major drive to recruit 600 engineers and technical staff to work on its 700- million pounds project of developing a new generation of cleaner and eco-friendly vehicles. The initiative comes only weeks after JLR was bought by Indian car giant Tata Motors from Ford for 1.5 billion pounds, but the former is not directly involved with the project though it has approved the plan. “This recruitment drive demonstrates Jaguar Land Rover’s confidence in our future. With our new owners, we have entered an exciting era with stunning new models and ambitious technologies,” newly- appointed chief executive David Smith said on Wednesday. The company has invested in sustainable technologies to meet European Union emissions target and is looking for experienced, degree- educated engineers to work on a variety of ground- breaking projects.

Most of the jobs will be based at the group’s development centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Besides, there are a number of vacancies in its purchasing, finance and human resources departments. It is also launching a programme aimed at recruiting more than 80 graduate trainees as well as 60 apprentices under an Advanced Modern Apprenticeship scheme announced in March. “This is probably the biggest single recruitment drive in the history of the two companies and it demonstrates that this is ago- ahead business with a strong future,” said a spokesman of the company. Kiran Virk, policy adviser at Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the recruitment drive was a welcome boost to the manufacturing sector which is trying to fight off increasing raw material costs, a downturn in the economy and global competition.