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JLR deal dubbed as 'major boost for West Midlands region'
The Economic Times — March 28, 2008

Mick Laverty, Chief Executive at regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, said announcement by Tata to acquire Jaguar Land Rover was "a tremendous boost for the entire West Midlands region."

Mr Laverty said: "Not only is it reassuring news for the workforce and their families, it also means that the high profile Jaguar and Land Rover brands synonymous with the region will continue to be promoted on the world stage.

"Tata have worked diligently over the past few months to establish the precise take-over details of the company they are buying - and Advantage West Midlands has left them in no doubt about the world-class region they are buying in to.

"The West Midlands is the home of the UK automotive industry. We are also a world beater in terms of research and development as well as design. And we will continue to build a strong working relationship with Tata to help them fulfil their aims and ambitions.

"The West Midlands is clearly a region that Indian companies feel they can do business with.

"Over the past two years, Indian investment into the West Midlands has more than doubled in terms of the numbers of companies setting up in the region. More than 1,300 jobs have been created since 2006 by 14 companies, meaning there are now nearly 30 Indian owned businesses in the region, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Tata Steel, Mahindra & Mahindra and Aditya Birla."

India is now consistently ranking in the top 10 countries for the number of investment projects into the UK including 3rd in 2005/06 behind the USA and Japan.

The British Midlands has shown a keen interest in Indian companies for some time. Recognising the increasing desires and abilities of the Indian businesses to expand globally, the British Midlands set up their representative office in India over 5 years ago for the purpose of attracting Indian investment into the region.

Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England whose role is to provide leadership and action to create more, better jobs and an improved quality of life for all in the West Midlands.

Fact Files

About British Midlands:

The British Midlands is a UK government-funded organisation, especially dedicated to attracting international businesses to the region. The British Midlands comprises of two of the nine English regions, namely, East Midlands and West Midlands. Both the regions have Regional Economic Development agencies (RDAs) which are funded by the UK Government. It is also the UK's premier business location for automotive, engineering, aerospace and IT companies from all over the globe and has representative offices in North America, Japan, Asia and Europe. Over 3,200 overseas owned companies are already present in the British Midlands.

The region benefits from the highest concentration of automotive producers and supply chain in the UK. Around 38% of vehicles produced in the UK are assembled in the British Midlands with Land Rover and Jaguar based here along with Toyota. 17 of the top 20 global automotive suppliers have operations in the British Midlands many of whom are involved in leading research and development activities.

Examples of Year to date Indian Investments in the British Midlands:

Mahindra & Mahindra has expanded its forgings operation in the Black Country with 35 new jobs

ICICI Bank have opened a branch in Coventry with 20 new jobs planned

Tata Steel's acquisition of Corus - Tata Steel has now over 40 different facilities in the British Midlands.

Since Tata Steel's acquisition of Corus, 2 sites in the British Midlands have expanded through 28 new jobs in their distribution centre and sheet processing facilities, both in the Black Country

Victory Electrical most recently acquired Black Country based Craig & Derricott safeguarding 50 and creating 60 new jobs (electrical switchgear producer.)

Facts related to Jaguar Land Rover operations in the UK

Total UK staff: 15,390

Midlands based staff: 13,290

Jaguar and Land Rover shared facilities

Halewood, Merseyside (not in the Midlands)

Assembly plant makes Jaguar X-type and Land Rover Freelander

Employees: 2,100

Gaydon, Warwickshire (Midlands)

Design and engineering, marketing, sales and service

Employees: 2,890

Jaguar facilities

Castle Bromwich, Birmingham (Midlands)