Manufacturing


It’s March madness for Jaguar Land Rover sales


A vehicle made by Midlands’ car giant Jaguar Land Rover was registered every 30 seconds during March, as the Indian-owned company continued its record breaking start to 2017. In fact, Jaguar Land Rover celebrated the best


March sales in its history, with Jaguar sales up 68 per cent to 9,484 and Land Rover achieving 22,283 sales, up by 14 per cent.


‘The Jaguar and Land Rover brands are stronger than ever here in the UK’


Jaguar Land Rover UK managing director Jeremy


Hicks said: “After a record breaking 2016 and start to 2017 we are continuing our momentum with these March figures. In the midst of the current uncertain economic climate it shows that the Jaguar and Land Rover brands are stronger than ever here in the UK. “New products are driving this success, with both


brands now offering a range of vehicles that suit the lifestyles and appeal to more buyers than ever before. We are no longer an attractive alternative but a


serious rival to our established competitors. With new models on their way throughout 2017 this momentum looks set to continue.” For Jaguar, the XE model enjoyed its best month in


the UK since its 2015 launch, retailing 3,359 vehicles last month. The F-Pace continued its impressive start as the fastest-selling Jaguar ever, selling 2,879 vehicles in March. The Jaguar XJ continued to attract executive and


fleet buyers, with 311 leaving UK showrooms in March. Land Rover sold 22,283 vehicles in March, its best


sales month ever. The all-new Discovery enjoyed an impressive first full-month of sales, with 3,284 people buying it in the UK. The Discovery Sport has overtaken the Range Rover


Evoque as the fastest-selling Land Rover of all time in the UK, retailing an impressive 7,239 vehicles in March. Despite being in its seventh year of production, the Evoque achieved its best ever sales month, with 6,736 leaving UK showrooms last month. Momentum will continue with the impending arrival


of the fourth member of the Range Rover family, the Range Rover Velar, which is available to order now. The first electric Jaguar, the I-Pace, will be launched later this year and the business has announced its intention to produce a new generation of the XF Sportbrake.


Loyal servant: Chris Roche (left) and Neil Fletcher


Engineer’s hard work pays off


An engineer from a Midlands based IT support provider has been handed a promotion to mark 15 years’ service to the company. Neil Fletcher, senior technical engineer, has been a dedicated IT expert at ACUTEC since 2002, installing servers, networks and lots of different technologies. Neil has been promoted to the


role of technical director to mark his years of loyalty and expertise. Managing director Chris Roche


said: “Neil is always professional and makes sure everything is of the highest standard.” Since joining ACUTEC 15 years


ago, Neil has become a highly- valued member of the company. He has seen the business grow


from a team of six to 25, as well as many other changes as technology has developed.


Drive growth in Slovakia


Gone in 30 seconds: Jaguar Land Rover’s record sales continue Concerns grow over skills gap


SME manufacturers in the Midlands have significant concerns over their ability to attract skilled staff to develop their business, according to research from accountancy firm Moore Stephens. The report claims that attracting


skilled staff ranks highly amongst SME manufacturers’ concerns, alongside the impact of Brexit (72 per cent) and fluctuations in exchange rates (72 per cent). Suk Aulak, partner at Moore


Stephens in Birmingham, said: “SME manufacturers in the Midlands are genuinely worried about the impact that the continued skills shortage will have on their businesses. “The uncertainty of what Brexit will mean seems to have already


made it harder for the SMEs in the Midlands to attract skilled staff from the EU, and many are concerned that this will continue.” Moore Stephens’ annual survey


of owner managed businesses finds that, while SME manufacturers based in the Midlands have concerns around the availability of skilled labour, they are also adopting strategies to tackle the widening skills gap over the course of 2017. Other key findings of the research included: • 47 per cent of Midlands SME manufacturers are certain or very likely to invest in staff training during 2017


• 38 per cent are certain or likely to create apprenticeship schemes during 2017.


Suk Aulak added: “I have seen no downturn in training activity. One client has set up a new training academy. One reason is that the market for apprentices is growing because of the new Apprenticeship Levy, so more businesses are setting up or looking at apprenticeship schemes. “There is a dearth of skilled talent


out there, particularly in the manufacturing sector, so businesses need to train people up themselves. “Many manufacturing SMEs will


welcome the publication of a defined Industrial Strategy for the Midlands, and it’s encouraging to see that Government are looking to address the widening skills gap – particularly for a sector that is so vital to the strength of the UK economy.”


As Britain begins negotiating its exit from the EU, successful local automotive businesses should drive opportunities for growth in Slovakia, the ‘new European hub of automotive’. That was the message at a


roadshow organised by The Voice of Slovak Business and held at the Birmingham offices of accountant Grant Thornton. With annual production


topping one million vehicles, Slovakia has developed rapidly into one of the world’s leading car producers, experiencing a five-fold production increase in the last 10 years. Christopher Plant, founder of


the Voice of Slovak Business and former CEO of the British Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic, said: “The numbers speak for themselves. Slovakia is rapidly becoming known as the new European hub of automotive and with further headroom for growth there are tremendous opportunities.”


May 2017 CHAMBERLINK 53


Sector Focus


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