manual assessment at Jag/Land Rover

Went for my top up interview all it is is to top up your details on what has changed since your last interview nothing to formal just a chat.

Bad news.... No start dates until next May.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

What it's really like to work for Manpower at Landrover Solihull..

First you work for manpower, not JLR, you are constantly remind of this by being referred to as "Agency"...

You are easily identifiable as you will not have your name on your uniform, which is 2 shirts, 2 trousers and the jumper to last you 6-9+ when you get a second set, washing your shirts twice a week soon becomes a drag.

You will go through Pera for 2 weeks which at the time will seem like a drag but when you are on the track you'll dream of being back there lol.

You will than be sent of to either FA1 FA2 (assembly lines) paint or BIW!(body in white, where the cars are actually made via robots etc) there are others areas like stampings but you are unlikely to go there as they are full of 20 years plus service guys (old timers).

I've worked in all areas so I can tell you what they are like...


FA1 is non stop, the track will run no matter what 350 cars a shift, fa2 occasionally stops because if break downs but isn't far off.

As a "Agency" worker you will most likely get put on a crap job that the previous guy has begged to get off. Your process will be about a 80 seconds, put a clip on, do some bolts up, fit some trim etc but you'll just have enough !(or more likely not enough) time to complete this before the next car is in your station. You might be jumping in and out of a car with 5-6 other guys all scrabbling around you or working underneath with your arms above your head the whole shifts, it's very physical and repetitive... you get three or two 10-15 minuets breaks, so you need to decide if you need the loo, want to eat or have a quick smoke. As for toilet breaks on the track, unlikely, even if you can get cover you could be made to wait 20 mins and your not allowed to go 45 minster before or after a break!!! The toilets and rest areas in Fa1 are a disgrace for a company that earns billions in profits but I admit FA2 is lot better but leaving the guys in FA1 in the dark ages is unacceptable!


Paint is a little better if you like being in a hot humid climate with no fresh air doing jobs like wiping a panel down or removing excess silent all day every day. Some areas are better than others but not by much!


Biw, there are 3 body shops now, Defender and T5 Discovery are gone. This is definitely the better area you work. You may get a cell door job, loading parts in to a robot, or a cladding job on the track, these are better jobs than trim and finale but unbelievably boring. It's a real strain to get through a night shift when you're on a robot with no one to talk too.. But prey you end up there...


As Manpower you are seen as expendable. You WILL be on your manpower contract for 5 years in which time you can be informed that "next week you're not required" and !!!!!!, you've lost your job even if you have a 100% record.


They also run a ancient system as to where the longer you worker there (called service) the higher chance you have of getting position of responsibility !( CME GL off track jobs) rather than help develop the careers of the younger keener next generation of JLR works who won't get a look in... They seem to premote blind loyalty over previous experience and enthusiasm???


As the the parking situation.... if you are a new starter you can't park on site, it's a 15 min bus ride to and from the airport. You will need to be there 45 minster before your shift and it can take up.to an hour with traffic and the lack of buses to get back at the end of the shift...

If you are late or absent your card is marked, no matter what the reason " The Track Waits For No Man".


Its not all doom and gloom however. The money is excellent for a manual job, there are no skilled jobs for manpower people. You start at 70% of what a 5 year service employee gets and raises 10% twice than 5% each year. So you are expected to do a unskilled job for 30% less pay to the guy opposite you merrily because he's been there longer?? You get a RHA bound of one ours pay a week paid out in November and paid holidays during the shut down of you have a accrued them, ie if you start and in a month there is a two week shut down you'll get 4 days pay and that's it. They claim you can take holiday out if shut down but it's up to your PL (process leader) and most days have been booked by JLR staff so you won't get a look in. JLR staff get paid out a summer bonus, manpower don't!


As for the union... they'll tell you when you start you'll need to join if you want there support in the event of a disciplinary but they are useless. You as Manpower can't vote for the reps or even take part in ballots that effect you, again you are second class.

The 5 year temporary contract for Manpower staff is a stroke of genius for JLR... A disposable woke force who have the golden carrot of a contract dangled in front of them while having the whip of uncertainty and possible dismissal behind them if they step out of line... Congratulations Mr Tata..

But if you want a back breaking job with no security and little future but great pay than this is the place for you....