Volvo Car UK has become an industry partner of Mission Motorsport, a charity that helps those leaving the military to find employment in the automotive industry. Volvo will be offering ex-armed forces personnel the opportunity to find sustainable, rewarding careers within the company’s retailer network through Mission Motorsport’s Armed Forces Engagement programme, Mission Automotive.
Mission Motorsport, the forces motorsport charity, whose motto is ‘Race Retrain Recover’, works in partnership with the Royal Foundation (the charitable trust of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) to deliver Mission Automotive. The initiative helps companies like Volvo implement engagement programmes that provide placement and employment opportunities for veterans, helping them bridge the gap between their military service and their new civilian life.
James Cameron, CEO, Mission Motorsport said: “Our servicemen and women have so much to offer society after they have left military service. Working with major brands like Volvo can only serve to help our veterans lead fulfilling civilian lives. Volvo recognises that the ex-military are already highly trained and incredibly motivated. The company echoes the same best practice and working ethos on which we at Mission Automotive pride ourselves and I am really looking forward to reaping the rewards of this new partnership.”
Since its inception, Mission Motorsport has supported over 1,700 veterans in full-time positions with member companies. Many of those have had career ending injuries while serving. Volvo is eager to increase these figures substantially. The company will work closely with Mission Automotive’s Relationship Managers to run insight visits, arrange work placements and training in a wide range of roles across all disciplines within the retailer network, including Service Technicians, Sales Consultant, Product Specialist, Service Advisors, Parts Advisors and Drivers. The aim is to secure permanent employment for ex-military personnel wishing to find a rewarding career in the motor industry.
Volvo has transformed into a true premium brand over recent years and has established itself as an industry leader in new technologies that are changing how people drive and own cars, making it an exciting business in which to work. The company has a diverse workforce and is always seeking ambitious, motivated candidates who are looking to start their careers in a supportive growing environment that provides stimulating challenges. It is looking to recruit 150 technicians next year.
Laura Loughran, Commercial Training Manager, Volvo Car UK explains: “Having had family serve in the Royal Navy, I understand how difficult it can be for those leaving the armed forces to translate their many and varied skills into civilian life. As a leading automotive manufacturer, Volvo has a comprehensive Human Resources support and training programme which we believe will be immensely beneficial for those seeking employment through Mission Automotive.
“In return, the company will gain by being able to recruit from such a huge pool of military talent. I’m full of pride that we will be able to help ex-armed forces personnel match skills learnt in the military with lifelong, sustainable automotive careers.”
For further information on the Volvo Car UK and Mission Motorsport partnership contact
Laura Loughran laura.loughran@volvocars.com or James Cameron jc@missionmotorsport.org
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About Mission Motorsport
The Forces' Motorsport Charity, whose motto is “Race Retrain Recover” is MoD's competent authority for motor sport as a recovery activity and is a Royal Foundation (the charitable trust of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) initiative.
A Service Charity and a member of the Confederation of Service Charities, Mission Motorsport has an award-winning collaborative model of working with government and the other service charities. It is funded by Service Charities including Help for Heroes, ABF The Soldier’s Charity and The Greenwich Hospital as well as by industry partners and independent fundraising.
The charity's dedicated career managers have supported more than 180 Wounded, Injured and Sick service leavers into employment since the inaugural Invictus Games in September 2014. Over 1800 veterans have found work through the charity’s programs in industry.
For more information visit the Mission Motorsport website.
About Volvo Car Group
Volvo Cars was founded in 1927. Today, it is one of the most well-known and respected premium car brands in the world, with sales of 642,253 cars in 2018 in about 100 countries. Volvo Cars has been under the ownership of the Zhejiang Geely Holding of China since 2010.
In 2018, Volvo Cars employed on average approximately 43,000 (39,500) full-time employees. Volvo Cars’ head office, product development, marketing and administration functions are mainly located in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars’ head office for China is located in Shanghai. The company’s main car production plants are located in Gothenburg (Sweden), Ghent (Belgium), South Carolina (US), Chengdu and Daqing (China), while engines are manufactured in Skövde (Sweden) and Zhangjiakou (China), and body components in Olofström (Sweden).
Under its new company purpose, Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. This purpose is reflected in a number of business ambitions: by the middle of the next decade, it aims for half of its global sales to be fully electric cars and to offer half of all cars to customers via its subscription service. By then, it also expects one-third of its cars sold to be autonomous.
The UK is Volvo’s fourth largest global market, behind China, the US and Sweden. In 2018, Volvo Car UK achieved sales of over 50,000 new cars in the UK – its highest total in 28 years.
