Mayor unveils £500,000 rapid-response package to support JLR workers following redundancy announcement

Mayor Richard Parker has pulled together an initial £500,000 employment support package to help JLR workers taking voluntary redundancy find new jobs.

The emergency package could be further increased with Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) support – to not only find new jobs for workers but safeguard their critical advanced manufacturing and automotive skills within the West Midlands regional economy.

The rapid-response package has been set up at short notice following today’s announcement that JLR, is making up to 4,000 redundancies over the next two years.

The Mayor said: "The news from JLR will be deeply worrying for thousands of workers and their families, many of them here in the West Midlands. My thoughts are with them first and foremost. 

“JLR is hugely important to our region and employs some of the most skilled people in Britain. The company has faced an incredibly difficult period - from the cyber attack last year to the impact of the war in the Middle East and continuing instability around global tariffs and trade.

“I have been speaking with the Government and the Secretary of State over the weekend as to what we can do together to support workers and protect jobs in our region.

“The Combined Authority has quickly put together a £500,000 support package for JLR workers who choose to take voluntary redundancy. We will help people find new jobs, connect them with employers and provide skills and careers support where they need it.

“That half a million-pound package is the starting point, not the limit of our support. If more help is needed, we are ready to do more. I have also made clear to JLR, the Government and trade unions that the Combined Authority stands ready to help in any way we can.

“These are highly skilled people and I want those skills to stay here in the West Midlands. We have employers across our automotive, advanced manufacturing, research and development and other growing industries who need those skills. Our job now is to bring those opportunities and these workers together.

“I will remain in close contact with JLR and the Government in the days ahead. My priority is making sure workers and their families have support and that we protect the skills and manufacturing strength that matter so much to the West Midlands."

The funding will provide targeted support to the JLR workers to fill any gaps in their skill set and match them to potential employers, giving them the best chance of securing a new job.

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) staff have already started working with colleagues at the DWP, local authorities, employers and wider partners to coordinate support for affected workers, ensuring access to a range of services tailored to their individual needs such as careers support, skills advice and job matching.