The new apprentice programme, which is seeking Advanced and Higher Apprentices, launches on Monday February 6th 2012 – coincident with National Apprenticeship week. This year, Jaguar Land Rover is seeking 133 apprentices to join the company which has a portfolio of hugely successful (and attractive) models in the range.

Commenting on the 2012 Apprentice programme, Des Thurlby, Human Resources Director, JLR, said: “Our Apprentice intake has more than doubled in the last 4 years and I am delighted that this year we are committing to take on a record number of apprentices. Apprenticeships provide a valuable and credible career path for the brightest and best and JLR is committed to providing the highest quality practical and academic training to develop the future generation of engineering talent needed to drive our business forward, indeed many of our senior leaders began their careers as apprentices.”

The JLR careers website opens for applications on 6th February 2012 and will close on 8th April 2012. Anyone interested in applying should visit: www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com.

In recent years, Lotus has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence, what with the immense popularity of cars such as the Exige, which whilst not being massive production models have a reputation as being tremendous when it comes to performance. Equally, the Evora has taken everyone by surprise, offering two rear seats but maintaining the fun factor that makes a Lotus so special.

The BBC has a new article that includes some in depth information on what’s happening at Lotus, including what is bound to be one of the worst kept secrets in motoring – the new Esprit supercar. I really can see Lotus becoming a very significant name in motoring, especially if hybrid technology is used. If anyone can ‘add lightness’ whilst adding normally heavy electric batteries, it’ll be this company…

Nissan Sunderland Plant

In recent news, Nissan has created 400 temporary fixed term contracts at the Sunderland plant in the North East of England. Recruitment has now begun for workers to be involved in the production process of the seemingly ever popular Qashqai, which has a major update coming in March 2010.

Trevor Mann, Nissan Senior Vice President for Manufacturing, Europe said: “Nissan is committed to delivering customers’ cars as quickly as possible, and our staff in Sunderland has been working incredibly hard to achieve this. However, Qashqai continues to buck the trend of a generally depressed market, and we have now identified the need for an additional shift to cover a high volume request in the first half of the 2010 Financial Year. Doing so will allow us to get cars to our customers more quickly and also provide the significant increase to production needed to fill the delivery pipeline to our European dealer network.”

Qashqai was created at Nissan’s design studio in Paddington, London, developed at its technical centre in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and is manufactured in Sunderland.

Since its sales launch in March 2007, more than half a million units have been sold across Europe, and the model accounted for 60% of Sunderland’s 2009 total production volume of 338,000 cars.

Have you ever fancied a job in the industry? If so, I might just have found the ideal opportunity for you, from two brands that are really going places both now and in the future. The company is none other than Jaguar Land Rover, who is looking for both graduates and undergraduates to join their expert team, across a wide range of disciplines.

Candidates have until December 31st 2009 to apply for these schemes. Applications to date are more than three times the level that was achieved for the 2009 graduate Milkround (when Jaguar Land Rover recruited around 70 graduates/undergraduates).
Jaguar Land Rover has recently announced a new business plan, designed to drive growth and sustained profitability and respond to the current economic challenges. Despite these challenges, Jaguar Land Rover continues to invest in graduate talent and has vacancies across the business in Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, IT and Purchasing.
Jaguar Land Rover also runs an undergraduate scheme for Engineering students to experience three or twelve month placements in the automotive industry.

At the heart of the recruitment campaign is the award winning website www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com created by TMP Worldwide.
Jaguar Land Rover HR Director, Des Thurlby, says: “Jaguar Land Rover is looking to recruit passionate graduates to join the business and help to develop our next generation of world-class products. We also need graduates in our business and commercial functions as we respond quickly to consumer desires and wants. Despite the challenging economic situation, we continue to invest in our people and in our future product line-up. We plan to recruit more graduates in 2010 than we did in 2009 to be in the best possible position as the economy improves.”

Carl Gilleard, Chairman of the Association of Graduate Recruiters comments: “It is really encouraging to see Jaguar Land Rover looking positively to the future and continuing to invest in graduate talent.”

All candidates should apply via the website: www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com.