Jaguar Land Rover tackles skills gap with ex-military recruitment drive
Over 1,500 former service personnel have joined Jaguar Land Rover since 2014, supported by bespoke training programmes aimed at easing the transition into advanced manufacturing roles.
Jaguar Land Rover has hired more than 1,500 ex-military personnel since 2014, using a series of targeted training schemes to address skills shortages across its UK manufacturing operations. The company’s approach combines bespoke courses for service leavers with a broader commitment to supporting veterans’ transition into civilian employment.
The Inspiring Tomorrow’s Workforce: Military Programme, developed in partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College and the Ministry of Defence, was launched in 2014 to help early service leavers, those who exit the military before four years’ service and often without civilian qualifications, gain the skills and confidence needed for employment in the automotive sector. The initial six-week pilot at Solihull saw all ten participants secure jobs at the plant’s new Jaguar XE facility after completing work experience and employability training. Since then, the programme has become a fixture, with veterans moving into roles from assembly to production leadership.
JLR’s approach is not limited to entry-level jobs. Veterans have progressed into logistics, engineering and continuous improvement roles, drawing on skills developed in the armed forces such as discipline, leadership and technical problem-solving. The company’s armed forces engagement programme provides mentoring and ongoing support, helping ex-service personnel adapt to the demands of a large-scale manufacturing environment.
Aiming for 1,000 global hires by 2020
In 2016, Jaguar Land Rover set a target to employ 1,000 ex-service men and women globally by 2020, a fivefold increase on its 2013 recruitment levels. This ambition was announced alongside the company’s ongoing support for the Invictus Games and the expansion of its veteran recruitment initiatives into North America, where a partnership with CALIBRE Systems aimed to place 180 veterans in the first year across the US retail network.
At home, the Solihull plant has remained a hub for veteran recruitment, with over 100 ex-military staff joining in 2014 alone and the company aiming to increase this to 150 per year. The Learning Academy’s bespoke programmes, including the Wounded, Injured and Sick (WIS) scheme, have supported veterans with complex needs, helping them move into permanent positions within manufacturing and beyond.
Why JLR targets ex-military talent
Jaguar Land Rover’s leadership has repeatedly pointed to the value of military experience in a manufacturing context. The company cites discipline, adaptability and technical expertise as key advantages. Many veterans arrive with experience maintaining complex machinery, leading teams under pressure and adapting to fast-changing environments, skills that transfer directly to automotive production and engineering.
- Bespoke six-week training for early service leavers
- Work experience in world-class manufacturing facilities
- Mentoring and support for transition to civilian roles
- Opportunities across assembly, logistics, engineering and management
JLR’s commitment is formalised through its status as a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and its gold award from the Ministry of Defence’s employer recognition scheme. The company also works with service charities and partners to extend opportunities beyond its own workforce, encouraging suppliers to adopt similar schemes.
The approach has drawn praise from military charities and former service personnel, while helping JLR address persistent skills shortages in a competitive recruitment market. The company’s model has since been adopted by other manufacturers and suppliers seeking to tap into the veteran talent pool.
