YOUNG WOMEN SMASH WORK STEREOTYPES WITH FURTHERING FUTURES

16 July 2018

Jaguar Land Rover has today launched a campaign to inspire more talented female STEM students to pursue innovative, creative and well-paid careers.

  • Jaguar Land Rover Furthering Futures campaign encourages more talented female STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) A-level and undergraduate students to pursue degree apprenticeships and other opportunities
  • Furthering Futures builds on company’s successful course which has supported 86 girls to secure apprenticeships
  • Initiatives like this have helped Jaguar Land Rover grow its female advanced apprentice population from 6% to 36% since 2012

Monday 16 July 2018, Whitley, UK – Jaguar Land Rover has today launched a campaign to inspire more talented female STEM students to pursue innovative, creative and well-paid careers. The campaign aims to smash outdated stereotypes by giving young women an accurate, in-depth look at careers in the automotive sector with opportunities to meet pioneering women from around the business and hear their inspirational stories.

The Furthering Futures launch event attracted 80 talented female A-level and undergraduate students from across the UK. Students participated in inspirational talks and career networking sessions with brilliant women from across the business and learned how to join its growing numbers of female degree apprentices, undergraduates and graduates.

Elizabeth Hill, Chief Product Engineer, Jaguar Land Rover, who was recently named in Autocar’s Top 100 2018 Great British Women in the Car Industry, said: “During my time at Jaguar Land Rover I have worked on developing some of the most innovative technology in the automotive sector. My most recent achievement was leading the development and launch of the new 2018 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, including Jaguar Land Rover’s first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. I oversaw the entire product development process, managing the cross-functional teams that delivered the vehicles. Furthering Futures will give talented young women insights into a world they may never have considered before.”

Women engineers from across the company are helping to inspire female students by supporting the campaign. Shannon Lynch, a degree apprentice, said: “I participated in the girls in engineering course in 2014. I made some really good friends and realised that this was the right company for me. I originally had a different pathway in mind but then found the Jaguar Land Rover apprenticeship which has been a brilliant experience. I saw how this company supported its female workforce and I love working here. I'm studying for a fully-funded engineering degree, have learned practical skills such as machining, welding, electrical wiring and virtual engineering from my supportive team. I’ve worked on amazing projects​ in the Chassis department which has supported programmes such as the ​Jaguar​ F-PACE and​ I-PACE”.  

As the automotive industry accelerates towards autonomous driving, connectivity and electrification, there’s a greater need to nurture and support future engineers who will design the vehicles and technologies of the future. Jaguar Land Rover needs more talented IT specialists, software engineers and developers to lead on exciting projects such as automated driving, artificial intelligence and robotics to support engineering capabilities and ongoing technological innovation. Jaguar Land Rover has recruited more than 2,400 young people on its graduate and apprentice programmes in the last five years and is searching for bright new talent and agile minds.

In September, Jaguar Land Rover will launch a Furthering Futures degree apprenticeship application route for female A-level students for the first time. Applicants who meet the recruitment criteria will be invited to attend a comprehensive and immersive four-day programme at company locations across the UK in October half term so they can learn more about career opportunities and undertake work experience placements with female mentors. Students can register their interest on www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com.

 

Notes to Editors

Editors’ notes

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports saloon and sports car marques.

We employ more than 44,000 people globally and support around 260,000 more through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. Manufacturing is centred in the UK, with additional plants in China, Brazil, Austria and Slovakia.

At Jaguar Land Rover, we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, which will provide experiences our customers will love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe. In 2017 Jaguar Land Rover sold 621,109 vehicles in 130 countries, with more than 80 per cent of our vehicles being sold abroad.

Our innovation is continuous: we will spend in the region of £4.5 billion this year on new product creation and capital expenditure.

From 2020 all new Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electrified, giving our customers even more choice. We will introduce a portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild hybrid vehicles as well as continuing to offer ultra-clean petrol and diesel engines.

For more information, contact:

Kate Birkenhead, JLR Responsible Business Senior Press Officer
T: 07780 494 352, E: kbirkenh@jaguarlandrover.com