Why Land Rover job cuts could hit thousands of other workers across Solihull

Jaguar Land Rover's plans to cut around 4,000 jobs could have consequences far beyond its own workforce, with a senior supplier boss warning that the wider automotive industry is facing a potentially serious decline.

David Roberts, chairman of Coventry-based JLR supplier Evtec, said the carmaker was the "kingpin" of the UK's automotive industry and warned that the situation could lead to the loss of decades of engineering expertise if the sector continues to contract.

His warning comes after JLR announced plans to cut around 4,000 jobs over the next two years as part of a £1.7 billion cost-cutting programme.

The company has not said how many of those roles will be lost at its Solihull plant, and the cuts are expected to focus mainly on salaried and management positions rather than production workers.

But the concern for Solihull goes beyond the people directly employed by JLR.

The company supports a huge network of suppliers and other businesses across the UK. Industry estimates suggest between 140,000 and 180,000 workers depend on JLR, meaning any prolonged reduction in demand could affect businesses well beyond the company's own sites.

Evtec itself employs around 900 people and is one of the businesses supplying JLR. Roberts has warned that the UK's automotive industry needs greater support if it is to avoid losing specialist manufacturing and engineering capabilities built up over decades.

The warning is particularly significant for the West Midlands, where JLR has a major presence and where hundreds of businesses are connected to the automotive sector.

Support announced for affected workers

The West Midlands Combined Authority has announced a £500,000 rapid-response package to help workers affected by the redundancies find new employment and keep their specialist skills within the region.

The funding is intended to support people through career changes and could be increased with additional government funding.

For Solihull, the scale of the potential impact remains uncertain.

JLR has not confirmed how many of the 4,000 cuts will come from its Solihull workforce, but the concerns from suppliers show why the announcement is being watched closely by businesses across the region.

The immediate job losses may be within JLR, but the future of the companies that rely on the carmaker could prove just as important for Solihull.