JCB to create 600 jobs

JCB has announced it will create 600 new jobs in the next three months, with 200 available for immediate start.

The company said a healthy order book had meant it needed 200 operatives immediately; including welders, paint sprayers and assemblers. It added A further 400 staff would be required within 12 weeks.

Mark Turner, chief operating officer, JCB, said, “This is great news for the local economy and great news for anyone seeking to work with a globally successful business.

“We know the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and surrounding towns have people with the skills we need, and in return they can expect excellent rewards. We urgently need fabrication welding skills along with paint sprayers, and general assemblers who will be given full training.

Turner added that opportunities would initially be for agency employees, although the company saw those as long-term opportunities. He said that JCB had handed permanent contracts to 850 agency employees in the past four years.

The new roles pay a minimum of £10.40 (€14.46) per hour for Monday to Friday working hours, with a premium paid for shift-work opportunities. In addition, JCB said it had vacancies for more than 100 permanent employees in engineering and other staff professions at its headquarters in Rocester and sites across the UK.