JCB’s UK employees are to receive a £400 Christmas bonus, the company announced today.
Around 5,000 employees at the firm’s 11 plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham will share in the festive payout, which is worth a total of £2 million.
It tops a year in which JCB celebrated the production of its one millionth machine, saw company Chairman Lord Bamford enter the House of Lords in honour of his contribution to manufacturing and announce £150 million plans to create 2,500 jobs in the UK over the next 5 years.
Lord Bamford said: “At the start of this year we anticipated that the business would face a number of economic headwinds and that has certainly been the case with trading being tougher than expected. However, while certain markets have slowed, we are seeing growth in other parts of the world which is very encouraging. I’m delighted that the company is able to award a Christmas bonus in 2013 and I thank everyone for their commitment and hard work this year.”
Mark Willmore, 40, of Cheadle, Staffs,is a team leader in the Backhoe Loader Business Unit at the World HQ in Rocester, Staffs, and has worked at JCB for 16 years. He said: “We never take getting a Christmas bonus as a foregone conclusion, so it’s great when we get one, especially with so much extra expense at this time of year. It’s nice to celebrate the company’s success for another year and I’d like to say thank you to Lord Bamford for awarding the bonus. ”
Marketing Communications Manager Joanne Langton, 24, of Quarndon, Derby, said: “It’s fantastic news that the company is paying a £400 Christmas bonus. I only joined JCB in April so it’s the first Christmas bonus I’ve received, which makes it extra special.”
Yesterday, it was also announced that UK shopfloor employees will also receive a 2.6% pay rise linked to November’s Retail Price Index (RPI) as part a new three year deal.