THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2011
Engineering growth
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JLR announcement set to create additional 2000 supply chain jobs
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced last week that it is planning to build a £355m engine production plant in the West Midlands directly creating approximately 750 jobs.
Business Birmingham estimates the new plant could lead to an additional 2000 jobs for local companies in the supply chain – providing a significant opportunity to attract new investors to the West Midlands.
JLR’s announcement, part of its long-term growth plans and evidence of its commitment to the West Midlands, will help boost the area’s reputation as a location for automotive, manufacturing and advanced engineering. The new facility will manufacture advanced technology, low-emission 4 cylinder engines at i54 South Staffordshire, a business park in the Black Country’s new enterprise zone.
Dr Ralf Speth, Chief Executive Officer, JLR, said:
As we invest £1.5 billion a year for the next five years on new product developments, expanding our engine range will help us realise the full global potential of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. The all-new family of 4 cylinder engines will increase JLR's capability to offer high performance engines with class-leading levels of refinement, whilst ensuring continued significant reductions in vehicle emissions.”
Martyn Mangan, Business Birmingham Investment Manager, said,
The success of Jaguar Land Rover is indicative of the wider West Midlands economy.
As one of the area's largest employers and internationally renowned brands, this £355million investment in the new plant is an important demonstration of its commitment to the area and the value it places on our world class transport technologies and R&D workforce and facilities.
Jaguar Land Rover is a global brand and its commitment to the West Midlands is a powerful sign to other global manufacturers, automotive and beyond, that this area can provide the talent, skills, connectivity, scale and support needed for business diversity and growth.”
Mangan leads on the transport technologies and manufacturing sectors for Business Birmingham where his extensive experience of working with both the automotive and aerospace industries is invaluable in helping to drive inward investment to the Greater Birmingham area.
Business Birmingham will capitalise on JLR’s announcement in its efforts to attract inward investment to the city region. Mangan continues,
We will be using JLR's investment as an example of the confidence major companies and brands have in Birmingham’s offering to potential investors.”
Birmingham’s offer
The West Midlands’ established reputation as a manufacturing and automotive hub of expertise remains a vital factor in its local economy. Its extensive R&D facilities including the Vehicle Engine Facility (VEF) located at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick – the UK’s only purpose built hybrid powertrain testing facility for the automotive sector that is not owned and operated by an individual automotive company, offers enormous potential for the automotive industry.
The city region is also investing in the next generation of engineers to ensure the sector has access to the skills needed to thrive. The Aston University Engineering Academy, scheduled to open in September 2012, will offer extensive training opportunities to ensure the West Midlands retains its automotive expertise through its young people.
Mangan says,
Birmingham has an international reputation in the automotive sector, but it is a very competitive industry and we cannot afford to be complacent. By working with partners such as JLR we are also training the next generation of world class engineers and investing in the technology to ensure we remain at the top of the automotive industry’s location list.”
To find out how your business could benefit from locating or expanding in Birmingham please call 0121 202 5115 or email invest@marketingbirmingham.com
