JCB Recruitment Drive Signals ‘Remarkable Turnaround’

Staffordshire-based digger maker JCB is set to create 500 new jobs and has awarded 300 agency workers with permanent contracts, which union bosses say represents a ‘remarkable turnaround’ for the firm, which was facing 900 job losses at the start of the pandemic.

PBC Today reports that JCB’s recruitment drive to create 500 new agency jobs at its UK manufacturing plants follows a surge in demand for its machinery, with most of its new machines sold out until next year.

The company got 2021 off to a good start after landing its biggest ever order for 2,100 machines in March, which followed the launch of the firm’s revolutionary Pothole Pro machine in January to help tackle the UK’s pothole problem.

As well as the firm’s recruitment drive for 500 new agency workers for its 11 factories in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham, it is also offering 300 existing agency workers permanent JCB contracts, which are on top of the 850 shop floor jobs already created this year, and 1,000 permanent contracts awarded to agency staff since the start of 2021.

The GMB union has described the move by JCB as a ‘remarkable turnaround’.

Stuart Harrison, GMB regional organiser said: “Yet again our fantastic workplace reps have saved jobs and secured the future for their members. Union workers at JCB have defended themselves throughout the pandemic and as a result, not a single one has lost their job.

“We expect to win even more permanent contracts for our members by year’s end.”

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