JLR to give Solihull recruitment boost
Manufacturing giant Jaguar Land Rover is set to make a "significant investment" in its Solihull plant, executive director Mike Wright has said. Speaking at Insider's inaugural Made in the Midlands Awards Dinner last night, Wright announced it would be "heavily recruiting" at the site.
Speaking to about 200 guests at Coventry's Ricoh Arena, Wright said: "There's something completely natural about an event called Made in the Midlands. The importance of investing in technology keeps increasing and we have great opportunities around the globe.
"I can announce tonight that JLR will soon be making a significant investment in recruitment at our Solihull plant. We have to invest in the skills base now; unless we act, we will be left behind by Germany, China and even India."
Also speaking at the Made in the Midlands event was former defence secretary and broadcaster Michael Portillo, who told manufacturers they were "bringing the region's heritage to life".
He said the event was "a real opportunity for businesses in this region to declare their Midlands credentials and heritage".
Big winners on the night included Aga which took the Manufacturing Company of the Year Award; Stoke-on-Trent-based Wade was handed the Manufacturing Innovation Award and emp technology's managing director Graham Mulholland, who was named Manufacturing Personality of the Year.
Portillo told guests: "You won’t need me to tell you either the Midlands remains home to many of the world’s most innovative manufacturing businesses.
"The Midlands was in the vanguard of the industrial revolution, and over the years it has become a hub for engineering expertise that is recognised the world over.
"The industry in the Midlands may have had to adapt and diversify as the global economy has opened up but, it is still the advanced manufacturing and materials sectors which are maintaining its reputation for excellence in manufacturing."
Noel Haywood is corporate partner in DLA Piper's Birmingham office and lead's the firm's manufacturing sector initiative in the Midlands.
At the event, he told Insider: "The winners demonstrate the diversity of the manufacturing companies that operate within our region.
"They range from blue chip companies like Aga Rangemaster, which is running global operations from their Warwickshire base, to smaller single location companies like epm technology which has driven innovation in the supply of carbon fibre parts in high performance engineering markets such as Formula 1 motorsport and aerospace.
"The common and encouraging theme is that these companies have risen to the challenges of recent years and have emerged stronger."
Don't forget to read tomorrow's Midlands Business Insider newsletter for more reaction including an exclusive chat with the Manufacturing Company of the Year.
