Deal boosts future of Castle Bromwich Jaguar plant

The future of Jaguar's Castle Bromwich factory looks more secure after an agreement between Jaguar Land Rover's management and the trade unions, announced on 15 October.

The deal has been welcomed as a vote of confidence in the plant, which employs thousands of people in east Birmingham.

Uncertain times

The future of the factory had been in doubt. Jaguar Land Rover, owned by the Indian company Tata Motors since 2008, has been looking at ways to cut costs after heavy losses during the recession, and there had been speculation that it might close one of its plants in the Midlands.

In April, Tata said it would keep its plants open for now, and the new agreement is seen as an important step in securing the factory's long-term future.

Home of the Jaguar

Castle Bromwich, on the Chester Road in Castle Vale, builds all of Jaguar's saloon and sports cars, including the XF and the new XJ. The plant sits on a 110-acre site with a huge manufacturing hall.

Jaguar Land Rover also has major plants at Solihull, where Land Rovers are built, and Halewood on Merseyside, as well as engineering centres at Gaydon and Whitley.

The Spitfire factory

The factory has a proud history. It was built from 1936 by the government, managed by Lord Nuffield's Morris Motors, to make Spitfire fighters, with the idea that Birmingham's car-making skills could be put to use building aircraft.

It became the largest Spitfire factory in the country, producing thousands of the fighters during the Second World War, as well as Lancaster bombers. The aircraft were taken across the Chester Road to Castle Bromwich Aerodrome to be tested. Today, the Sentinel sculpture on the roundabout at Castle Vale, showing three Spitfires in flight, commemorates that history.

Jobs for the area

The plant is one of the biggest employers in the east of the city, and many more jobs depend on it in the supply chain. The closure of the MG Rover plant at Longbridge in 2005, with the loss of thousands of jobs, is still fresh in the memory, and workers and politicians have been anxious to avoid a similar blow.

A recovering industry

There are signs that Jaguar Land Rover is recovering. Sales have picked up as the economy has improved, particularly in China and other overseas markets, and the company is investing in new models.

Unions say they hope the agreement will lead to new investment in Castle Bromwich and secure jobs for years to come. For the workforce, the news brings some welcome certainty after a difficult couple of years.