Extra day’s holiday for digger firm milestone
JCB workers around the world are to get an extra day’s holiday to celebrate the company’s 75th birthday.
Bosses at the digger giant told employees the news ahead of the milestone anniversary yesterday.
In a special video message to the global workforce, JCB chairman Lord Anthony Bamford paid tribute to the efforts of employees past and present who have contributed to the success of the company.
JCB comes from humble beginnings having been founded in a lock-up garage in Uttoxeter on October 23, 1945, by the late Joseph Cyril Bamford on the day his son Anthony was born. He now runs the family business.
The company’s first product was a hydraulic tipping trailer made out of war-time scrap.
Today JCB manufactures more than 300 different machines, including the world’s first electric mini excavator.
Lord Bamford said: “As we mark 75 years in business, I know that everything JCB has achieved is due to the hard work and commitment of everyone who works for JCB or has worked for JCB in the past.
“I’d like to thank everyone for their support over the years and particularly in recent months while we were dealing with the challenging business situation. We did have plans to celebrate our 75th anniversary, but Covid-19 changed all that.
“So, rather than celebrate, we should remember everything that JCB has achieved in the past 75 years.
“From small beginnings in a lock-up garage, in Uttoxeter back in 1945 the JCB team has helped to create a business that we can all be very proud of.”
The extra day’s holiday will be taken by UK employees on Christmas Eve to extend the traditional festive break.
JCB employs more than 12,000 people globally, half of whom are based at the company’s 11 UK plants.