JLR Hires Over 1,500 Skilled Ex-Forces Personnel to Strengthen Workforce

• JLR this year marks 10th anniversary of signing Armed Forces Covenant
• The UK’s largest luxury car maker has hired an average of 150 veterans a year since 2014
• Last year JLR engaged with over 500 service leavers and hired 180 into JLR roles
• JLR has dedicated armed forces employment support programme

Gaydon, UK, 2024: JLR today confirmed it has hired more than 1,500 former armed forces personnel globally over the last decade, as the nation honours Armed Forces Week in the UK.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of JLR signing the Armed Forces Covenant and 10 years of working in partnership with Mission Motorsport, the Forces’ Motorsport Charity, leading to the UK’s largest luxury car maker employing an average of 150 veterans a year

Last year, JLR engaged with over 500 service leavers and hired over 180 former service personnel as part of a programme to help armed forces leavers to find employment opportunities and maximise their transferrable skills.

The transition into civilian life after finishing a forces career can be challenging, as civilian recruiters may not always fully appreciate military CVs and their unique skillsets.

JLR supports veterans by employing a dedicated Armed Forces Engagement Manager, running an Armed Forces Community support network, providing CV and interview advice and offering prospective employees site visits. 

JLR has a rich history of employing people from military backgrounds, actively encouraging and supporting other companies and sharing our experience through the SMMT’s Mission Automotive Armed Forces Engagement initiative.
“As well as technical skills many service leavers and veterans have, we also recognise the exceptional project management, leadership and organisational qualities and unique

experience military candidates bring. JLR provides a sense of belonging that individuals have held so dear throughout their military service in shared common values and ethos through JLR’s company purpose.

STEPHEN LEES, JLR ARMED FORCES ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME MANAGER

Through understanding the transferrable skills on a military CV, JLR has successfully hired former servicemen and women with diverse military experience into JLR roles, including:

• Royal Tank Regiment Captain; JLR Virtual Vehicle Coordinator
• Major Royal Logistics Corps: JLR Leadership Development Manager
• RAF Supply Specialist; JLR Operational Risk Manager
• Infantry NCO (Rifles); JLR Senior Customer Success Lead
• Royal Navy Weapons Engineer Officer; JLR Platform Lead Engineer

Across JLR there are hundreds of former service personnel with years of military service from board level leaders, to right across the shop floors of the manufacturing and engineering sites. 

Lead Engineer and British Army Veteran Peter Whittenbury comes from a deep-rooted family history in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), both his grandfathers were founding members of the REME. 

Having originally joined up in 1988, Pete went onto serve a full career as a regular soldier in REME until November 2012. Since then, he has served as an Army reservist.

He is now playing a key role in the JLR’s electric future, being responsible for JLR’s Environmental Test Management supporting on all the testing for powertrain and more recently, the new Range Rover Electric. 

It was through one of the many careers events that JLR attends that I managed to get my role within the company and I’ve never looked back. I’ve been able to fulfil my Reservists career alongside my engineering one,” he said.

JLR has embraced my military background and with policies in place to support my time serving, I’ve found that I ‘ve got the best of both worlds with the added understanding from my employer.

PETE WHITTENBURY, LEAD ENGINEER AND BRITISH ARMY VETERAN

FURTHER INFORMATION

Media Enquiries: 

JLR Media:   

E: jlrmedia@jaguarlandrover.com   

T: +44 (0) 2475 361000   

David Wrottesley

Global External Corporate Communications Manager  

 E: dwrottes@jaguarlandrover.com 

T: +44 (0) 7846 091 167 

Social Channels:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jaguar-land-rover_1 

X : https://twitter.com/JLR_News

NOTES TO EDITORS

The next electric vehicle to launch will be the new Range Rover Electric manufactured in Solihull, UK, for which clients can join the waiting list.

About JLR’s support for the Armed Forces

JLR signed the Corporate Covenant in 2014 and re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021. 

JLR has held the Gold Award on the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) since 2015, successfully revalidated in 2020 and have remained active members of the Gold Award Association (GAA) 

JLR has an active Reserve Forces policy that affords Reservist employees an additional 10 days’ paid leave

In 2019 JLR formerly launched its Armed Forces Community Network (AFCN) to provide vocational advice in support of our dedicated Armed Forces Engagement lead, helping service leavers, veterans and military spouses/partners into employment

JLR promotes individual and collective endeavours in support of military charities, including the RBL’s annual Poppy Appeal, actively engages in Tri-service Reserve  recruitment and provides mutual support for its members.

JLR’s AFCN is not exclusive to UK Armed Forces, there are those   who have served forother nations  across the globe as well as any family members

JLR has been active members of the Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT) Mission Automotive initiative since its launch in 2019, promoting Armed Forces engagement across the automotive industry.

Most recently,  D-Day Veterans were chauffeured by JLR staff volunteers from across its Armed Forces Community Network (AFCN) as part of its support for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, both in the UK and Normandy.

About JLR 

JLR’s Reimagine strategy is delivering a sustainability-rich vision of modern luxury by design.   

We are transforming our business to become carbon net zero across our supply chain, products, and operations by 2039. We have set a roadmap to reduce emissions across our own operations and value chains by 2030 through approved, science-based targets. Electrification is central to this strategy and before the end of the decade our Range Rover, Discovery, Defender collections will each have a pure electric model, while Jaguar will be entirely electric.    

At heart we are a British company, with two design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an engine manufacturing centre, and a battery assembly centre in the UK. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria, and Slovakia, as well as seven technology hubs across the globe.      

JLR is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors Limited, part of Tata Sons.