Nissan is safeguarding 1,100 graduate engineering and related jobs in Sunderland by investing £57m in producing its new model, the Juke, there.
At the recent production launch of the Juke, the car manufacturer also announced that it is planning to extend its educational outreach programme until 2014, benefiting 750 university engineering students.
Further education and skills minister John Hayes, who attended the launch, commented, ‘This is one of the most successful and productive plants in Europe and Nissan’s long-standing commitment to skills is one of the biggest reasons why. Building the Juke in Sunderland will secure jobs and investment for years to come, benefiting the workforce and local community right here, as well as safeguarding more jobs in the supply chain across the region and the UK economy as a whole.’
The Sunderland plant expects to produce up to 100,000 Jukes each year, making it the plant’s highest volume model behind the Qashqai. Earlier this year the Department for Business confirmed a £20m grant supporting further investment by Nissan to produce electric car batteries and build the Leaf electric car at Sunderland.
Business secretary Vince Cable stressed the government’s support for the UK automotive industry recently when he visited the test track facilities at Gaydon near Warwick. Dr Cable test drove an Aston Martin and Jaguar’s green car, the Limo Green, an electric and petrol hybrid. Dr Cable praised ‘the high level of skills and engineering that go into making premium and niche cars in the UK’.
Posted by Alison_TARGETjobs on 1 September 2010
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