The recruitment drive has started for the permanent jobs at the JCB World Headquarters and its plants at Cheadle and Uttoxeter in Staffordhsire.
In September, an additional 15 new recruits will join JCB's fabrication and welding apprenticeship. In the past three years, the company says almost 70 welding apprentices have passed their courses with all gaining permanent JCB jobs.
JCB adds that demand for its machines has reached historic highs with most products now sold out until next year. The company has this year recruited 1,350 new shop floor employees and given permanent JCB contracts to 1,000 agency employees.
JCB chief operating officer Mark Turner commented: “Over the past five years the number of welders in the UK has shrunk, which presents businesses with a big challenge at times of high demand. JCB has been working very hard over the past few years to tackle this shortage and attract new entrants to this highly-skilled job with its apprenticeship and training programmes, which have been very successful."
