More than 20 000 JLR workers and partners have been trained in electrification and digital skills as part of JLR’s Future Skills Programme.

So far, the UK’s largest luxury car manufacturer has trained more than 2 400 manufacturing employees in its UK production facilities with EV skills; more than 95 per cent, or 10 000, of JLR’s retail partner technicians, ensuring workshops are prepared to service JLR’s next generation of luxury electric vehicles; nearly 3 000 engineers trained in electrification; around 2 500 in data and digital and more than 4 200 JLR workers and retail partner apprentices and Early Careers employees are currently in training.

With work to transform JLR facilities for electric vehicle production progressing quickly, electrification training for over 11 000 JLR manufacturing colleagues is now underway.

And in this year, JLR further expanded its skills base by opening a further 950 electrification roles in engineering.

Future Skills training is being led by the JLR Learning Academy, which invests around R478 million a year to train JLR employees and partners, so they can achieve their potential.

Looking forward, JLR will be training at least a further 15 000 employees across manufacturing, engineering and workshops as part of the programme.

Electrification is creating more opportunities for people from diverse backgrounds. In contrast to traditional ICE engine work, EV work is often more focused on process-orientated approaches rather than intense manual labour, making it accessible to a wider range of employees, including those from neurodiverse backgrounds.

JLR retail master technician Chloe Taylor, who works in a Sytner retailer in Northampton, commented: “I started my career as an apprentice, learning to work with combustion technology and more recently qualified to dismantle high voltage electric vehicle batteries.

“The transition to EVs presents lots of learning opportunities, shifting from much of the heavy part lifting associated with ICE vehicles, to more process-driven, technology-centred diagnostics work. I hope this shift will encourage more women to follow my path.”

Barbara Bergmeier, JLR Executive Director of Industrial Operations, said: “Our plans to electrify our ultra desirable modern luxury brands are unfolding at speed, and I’m delighted with the pace that our Future Skills Programme is readying our talented workforce.

“We are working to attract and upskill a more diverse array of talent, and electrification is opening up new and more attractive opportunities for females such as Chloe, who have previously specialised in ICE technology. The realisation of our Reimagine strategy is dependent on the skill of our people and a more diverse workforce brings additional strength.”

JLR has also introduced a number of other initiatives to enable those from more diverse backgrounds to access a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) career, including:

• A virtual work experience programme with 2 000 enrolments in eight weeks, of whom 31 per cent are women and girls.
• A schools partnership programme to encourage students from diverse backgrounds to begin a career in STEM.
• Working through partnerships to attract more diverse candidates in JLR’s Early Careers scheme.