SKILLS AND RECRUITMENT

The automotive sector will change more in the next 10 years than it has in the last 50, with advanced car technologies offering huge potential to change travel and transport for the better. People working with us have a great opportunity too – to engineer a better world.

Yet, as the sector looks to shape the future, it faces one of its biggest challenges: a shortfall in engineering and technology skills.By 2022 we’re facing a shortfall of 300,000 skilled engineers in the UK alone. We see it as our responsibility to help address this in every way we can.

The plain truth is that there aren’t enough young people studying the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects that enable them to pursue a career in science or engineering. And, despite all the initiatives to encourage young people, the talent pipeline is still in danger of running dry. 

So we’re changing outdated perceptions, showing parents, teachers and children alike that engineering is not a ‘spanner and hammer’ job for the boys. Engineering and technology are open to all and can offer a lifetime of opportunities and inventive, creative careers. 

Jaguar Land Rover does not do ordinary recruitment. We’ve teamed up with Gorillaz to find new world-class talent. Fans interested in an engineering career can tackle a series of code breaking puzzles on the virtual band’s app to test curiosity, persistence, lateral thinking and problem-solving – all real-world skills the new generation of software and engineering talent must have. Code-crackers can go straight to an interview for their dream job. We’ve already hired the first recruit.

We’re also investing heavily to encourage more children into STEM subjects. Since 1999, Jaguar Land Rover has engaged with over two million young people in the UK through our Inspiring Tomorrow’s Engineers initiative. By 2020, we will engage with a further two million worldwide.

We’re not stopping there. The Jaguar Land Rover Academy – founded on strong links with universities and colleges – is helping to shape the educational curriculum, offering ways for bright young minds to qualify academically and step into a rewarding career. Using our participation in Formula E motor racing, we’ve launched a campaign to open young minds to a world that’s literally electrifying. And through our Formula 1 in Schools challenge, we’re
showing kids that STEM subjects aren’t just fascinating, they’re fun.

There’s still much to do. But we know today’s curious young minds are tomorrow’s engineers, designers and innovators. We’ll continue reaching out to them in new ways, so they can shape new forms of mobility to benefit us all.