Jaguar Land Rover to Offer Apprenticeships in Data Skills

Jaguar Land Rover is hoping to advance its employees’ data skills with a joint venture to train workers in areas that can boost its own digital transformation.

The automaker has teamed up with technology start-up company Multiverse in an apprenticeship training scheme seen as part of JLR’s Reimagine strategy to position itself at the forefront of the automotive industry with a focus on electrification, digital services and data.

JLR says Multiverse is looking to fill the recognized data skills gap within the industry by building an alternative to university and corporate training through apprenticeships. It now trains more than 8,000 technology, leadership and digital apprentices.

Through the collaboration, a Data Fellowship course will be offered to employees. The 15-month course covers topics including data modeling, analysis, Python, and Machine Learning, and will support thousands of JLR’s employees in making the transition from spreadsheets and desktop data work to working on the cloud. The first 400 employees enrolled this summer, with additional groups launching each quarter.

Clive Benford, chief data officer at JLR, says: “The automotive industry is rapidly changing to become digital and electric. The management and utilization of increasingly high volumes of data in this new era will be central to Jaguar Land Rover’s future. We need to create a data-first mindset that will support our growth, enhance the customer experience and increase the productivity and expertise of our teams.”