Automotive skills taskforce led by ex-JLR director
AFORMER global director of luxury car brand Jaguar Land Rover is to lead a taskforce set up to boost skills in the West Midlands’ automotive sector.
Ron Lee worked for JLR during a 35-year career in the manufacturing sector and has now been appointed chairman of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s automotive skills taskforce.
The group is providing strategic leadership across the region to tackle the skills challenges facing that industry.
Mr Lee is a fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and was global director of Powertrain Engineering for 17 years, developing the JLR group business into a standalone engineering function.
After a career spent in product innovation and launch, Mr Lee now advises companies on the strategy, key decisions, technical structures and methods to manufacture new products.
The combined authority estimates there are 1,100 automotive businesses in the West Midlands which contribute £3.2 billion to the region’s economy and employ 46,000 staff.
The automotive skills taskforce is aiming to bring the industry together with education and training providers to equip local people with the skills the sector needs to adopt emerging new technologies. Its members include Jaguar Land Rover and BMW alongside SMEs from within the supply chain, industry bodies and the University of Warwick.
Mr Lee said: “The West Midlands is the centre of automotive employment in the UK and the industry has a huge economic impact in the region and nationally. The sector is making unprecedented changes in technology as it responds to the demands of competing globally in a low-carbon, low-emissions, autonomous, connected and highly automated transport industry.
“Having enjoyed a fascinating 35-year career in the automotive industry, I believe it’s crucial that others can re-skill to enjoy a long, rewarding career and young people are able to thrive in this brilliant, technologically challenging sector.” Councillor George Duggins, the combined authority’s productivity and skills chief, added: “Automotive businesses in this region employ 28 per cent of the UK’s overall automotive workforce – the vast majority within the supply chain.
“We need to make sure that the region’s automotive businesses have the chance to upskill and re-skill staff to remain competitive globally and help attract investment.
“Ron has a proven track record at board level in the industry and I’m delighted that he is chairing the Automotive Skills Taskforce.”