Jaguar Land Rover jobs joy as Chancellor pledges £16 million
Up to 200 highly skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs will be created after the Chancellor pledged £16.6 million to form a new project led by Jaguar Land Rover.
Speaking on a visit to the JLR Manufacturing Centre near the M54, George Osborne said the grant would help develop a "more efficient transmission system" for potential use in future models of JLR cars.
Mr Osborne's visit to JLR was his second appearance in the West Midlands in recent weeks, following on from his announcement of devolved powers to the region's combined authority.
Announcing the £16.6m grant today, he said: "I'm determined to build on the success of Britain's Engine for Growth in the Midlands, and today's announcement is a crucial step in our plan.
"This grant is a further example of how this Government is backing businesses in the Midlands to grow and create jobs and support working people at every stage of their lives."
He added that the grant would be matched by private funding, bringing the total project funding to over £33m. The cash will create an initial 60 roles in research and development, and if successful could lead to the creation of a further 130 manufacturing and engineering roles.
The new funding will also ensure the security of a further 150 roles. The grant is being awarded through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).
Dr Wolfgang Epple, director of research and technology, at JLR, welcomed the funding boost. He said: "The collaborative research programmes we lead bring together some of the best engineering minds in the UK and allow us to multiply the effect of our investment and nurture UK-based technology investment."
