Biggest ever intake at Jaguar Land Rover

336 graduates joined Jaguar Land Rover

There was a buzz of activity at the Jaguar Land Rover headquarters in Gaydon on Monday as the firm welcomed its biggest single intake of graduates in its history.

Some 336 smartly dressed and fresh-faced university-leavers gathered at the site near Southam, where they met members of the JLR board, were introduced to the firm’s forthcoming products and were given an inspirational speech on teamwork and leadership from Olympic champion and patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, Sir Steven Redgrave.

Des Thurlby, director of human resources at the firm, explained how it has been possible to take on such a large number. He said: “As a business, we are growing and expanding. We are just about to launch the Land Rover Evoke and have many more exciting products planned.

“We need lots of engineers and manufacturers, but also people to work in our IT and finance and other departments.

“We had 8,600 applications and we have hired 336, so these people have done really well to be here. We feel we have picked the best.”

And it’s not just graduates. This month JLR is also hiring its largest ever intake of apprentices - 104 - as well as 500 experienced recruits who will go directly into staff jobs.

The majority of the new employees will be working in Gaydon and Coventry, while others will take on roles across the UK.

Among these is 23-year-old Gillan Rattray, who gained the job a year after graduating from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh with a masters in mechanical engineering. She said: “Since I graduated, I have been wanting to get into the automotive industry, but it has been quite difficult. I’m really pleased to get the job as JLR is among the top motoring companies in the UK.”