Insider Media Limited

Derby's Bombardier workforce is the "envy of the UK". That's the view of George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce, after manufacturing giant Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said it hoped to recruit some of the redundant workers.

Warwickshire-based JLR said it would encourage workers at Derby's Bombardier plant to apply for the 1,000 jobs the company plans to create over the next few years.

A company spokeswoman told reporters: "We know that there are many highly-skilled engineers at Bombardier and we would encourage those workers who are being made redundant to apply.

"We appreciate that these workers will have laid down roots in Derby and we would hope that thanks to the great motorway links that it would not be too much of a commute for them if they came to work for us."

It was announced last month that up to 1,400 jobs would be axed from the Derby site as the manufacturer missed out on the government's multibillion-pound Thameslink contract.

George Cowcher said: "The fact that other major employers in the transportation sector are looking to recruit workers from Derby proves that this highly-skilled workforce is the envy of the UK. Derby has a number of world class manufacturers based in the city - of which Bombardier is one - which means it also has a world class workforce."

He warned that there was a danger that those affected by the Bombardier crisis may have to move away from Derby to find alternative employment.

Cowcher added: "That's why it's crucial that the government not only thinks again about its Thameslink decision, but also ensures that its new Economic Response Taskforce takes firm action to retain the skills, knowledge and experience of affected workers within Derby and its surrounding areas."