Cooperation with Jaguar steps up a gear

News and views from the IMechE

The link between the IMechE and Jaguar Land Rover has been strengthened by the signing of a memorandum of understanding that will help to fulfil the aims of both organisations to deliver a highly skilled engineering workforce. 

The agreement will see JLR engineers becoming IMechE members, while the institution will support the technical accreditation scheme, the technical excellence awards in December, the technical specialists’ network, and the overseas development in China and India. The IMechE will also serve locally at each of JLR’s sites across the UK to help the company’s engineers to become more skilled. 

Steven Gasser, senior business development manager for the institution, said: “The signing of the memorandum of understanding marks another exciting chapter in the partnership between the institution and Jaguar Land Rover. Our organisations will be able to work closer than ever before to add value and support to the engineering community. These are exciting times for JLR and I look forward to our continued association with their success.”

JLR employee numbers are set to be boosted by 1,000 engineers this year to support the company’s ambitious growth plans.

Jo Lopes, head of technical excellence at JLR, said: “Jaguar Land Rover and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers have built a close working relationship over many years in relation to the promotion and benefits of professional accreditation. The signing of this memorandum of understanding will help us build on this strong partnership and expand areas of collaboration to support JLR’s continuing growth.”

JLR has sponsored a new scholarship, the Spen King Award, which was given to engineering student Sophie Wakeford at the Vision Awards, as part of the institution’s scholarships and awards programme. 

In addition, more than 200 JLR graduate engineers are now using eMPDS, which is the institution’s online reporting tool that allows graduates to plot their work towards gaining chartered engineer status.