JCB is filling hundreds of vacancies by giving permanent contracts to huge numbers of agency staff, it has been revealed.

The digger giant has handed out permanent contracts to a new wave of 230 agency employees – marking a major milestone in company recruitment.

The latest conversions come on top of 200 agency employees taken on in the first three months of this year.

It now means the company has given permanent contracts to more than 1,000 agency workers in the last four years.

Five temporary agency staff receive their new permanent JCB contracts.
Pictured left to right are new recruits Mark Woollard, Nikki Swann, Wayne Clowes, Joshua Ratcliffe and Viktor Filchev at JCB HQ
Five temporary agency staff receive their new permanent JCB contracts. Pictured left to right are new recruits Mark Woollard, Nikki Swann, Wayne Clowes, Joshua Ratcliffe and Viktor Filchev at JCB HQ

JCB chief operating officer Mark Turner said: "We’re delighted to offer permanent contracts to an unprecedented number of people this year.

"We’ve now given full-time JCB contracts to more than 1,100 agency employees in the past four years. It shows huge confidence in the future and our commitment to offering stability for our workforce."

JCB announced last month it needed 600 new workers at its Rocester, Uttoxeter, Cheadle and Rugeley factories to meet unprecedented global demand for its products.

There are still opportunities for general assemblers, welders and more than 50 engineers.

Dad-of-two Josh Ratcliffe, from Uttoxeter, joined JCB as an agency employee in the Loadall business unit and has now been given a JCB contract.

After 10 years with another firm in the Uttoxeter area, Josh had worked his way up to supervisor, but felt he could progress no further.

He said: "It was a risk leaving a stable job, but I knew people here, it’s a lot more professional and the money is way better.

"The agency was brilliant to deal with and really looked after me. I had to work four weeks’ notice but they waited for me.

"When I joined I did three days health and safety training, which was paid, then I started. Within a couple of hours I felt really comfortable and knew I’d made the right decision.

"While I’m still doing the same job even though I now have a permanent JCB contract, having that security is a big thing, especially when you’ve got a family.

"If anyone’s thinking of changing jobs, I’d definitely recommend it here. If you’re a good worker and have the right attitude there are lots of opportunities to progress in time."

Law graduate Nikki Swann, 30, of Cheadle, joined JCB in May last year as an agency operative on the Loadall production line.

She had previously worked in legal services, hospitality and business before looking for a change of career.

She said: "It was daunting joining as an agency employee, because you don’t know what you’re coming to or how long it might last but I could quickly see that it was busy.

"It’s been brilliant being taken on permanently and I can see that there are lots of opportunities here.

"I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a change from their job. The money is good and it’s a great working environment too."

To find out more about the opportunities available at JCB, or to apply, visit https://www.jcb.com/en-gb/about/careers