More than 6,500 graduates apply at JLR

Jaguar Land Rover, part of Tata Motors, has received more than 6,500 applications for 280 graduate recruitment places this year as it embarks on a recruitment drive to support a multi billion pound investment plan for new product creation. Applications are 68 per cent higher than in 2010 and have more than tripled in two years. For 2011, the 280 graduates will be hired for a variety of roles across the business – from Product Development Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, IT and Purchasing. Jaguar Land Rover HR Director, Des Thurlby, said: "Our plans over the next few years will see us spending billions of pounds to research and develop exciting new products and technologies. This investment will secure Jaguar Land Rover's position as an innovative, world-class manufacturer of luxury vehicles." The long-term investment Jaguar Land Rover has been making in its people has also been recognised. Successful applicants will be working for one of the UK's top graduate firms after it was named in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list in 2010. Jaguar Land Rover's two year graduate scheme has been developed to give candidates the right blend of technical expertise, personal development and knowledge needed for a truly rewarding career at one of the world's leading automotive businesses. "Seeing the number of graduate applications triple in just two years reflects the increasingly positive perception people have of our business," Des Thurlby added. "We are working hard to ensure that their careers with us will be challenging and exciting. I am delighted that we have received so many applications