Jaguar Land Rover is recruiting 104 apprentices during 2011, across all its trades in engineering and manufacturing, and is encouraging more women to apply for the positions.
The automotive group has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading employers of women by being placed in The Times 50 Top Employers for Women list. “We are extremely proud that our efforts to cultivate a talented and diverse workforce across Jaguar Land Rover have been recognised by this prestigious award,” says Jaguar Land Rover human resources director Des Thurlby.
Details of the new roles have been targeted at local schools and colleges with the aim of increasing awareness among female applicants. Existing women apprentices have been involved in presentations to give their a personal insight into their work.
“On average in the UK, only 2 per cent of applications for apprenticeships within this sector come from women,” says Thurlby. “Jaguar Land Rover has actually hired five times this proportion of women for our vacancies, and we are determined to further improve on this achievement in the future.”
To ensure that potential applicants for apprenticeships – both male and female – have access to clear information, the company has worked on an industry-wide online career matching tool to provide help.
“Jaguar Land Rover products appeal to a broad range of global consumers, both male and female, and it is important that this diversity is reflected in our employee base. Within a traditionally male-dominated industry we believe that our commitment to flexible working policies and an inclusive and progressive environment will attract women who may not have considered this industry previously,” says Thurlby.
