Fit for a Queen: Inside the new Jaguar Land Rover plant on Shropshire's doorstep
There's a sense of mounting excitement at the Jaguar Land Rover engine plant on Shropshire's doorstep – and it's not just because Her Majesty the Queen will perform the official opening on Thursday.
The impending royal visit has added to an expectant mood as the factory prepares for the start of full production early next year.
Jaguar Land Rover's new Engine Manufacturing Centre on the i54 will provide jobs for dozens of people in Telford & Wrekin and further afield.
Dubbed 'Job One' by the growing workforce at the 775,000 sq ft plant, getting the new Ingenium diesel engines smoothly running off the production line will have to co-ordinate exactly with manufacturing of the equally new Jaguar XE saloon, which will start rolling out of JLR's Solihull factory at the same time.
And David Wright, Telford MP, said he hoped it would be a catalyst for other major firms to come to the area.
He said: "The opening of the factory is fantastic news and it is a huge investment in the area by a wonderful international company.
"I am delighted that the opening will provide an awful lot of jobs for people in Telford & Wrekin and I am sure even further afield into Shropshire and this has to be applauded."
He said the successful opening of the factory could provide a springboard for other companies to invest in the M54 corridor.
"I am hopeful that this is a sign of things to come for what kind of businesses we can attract to Telford," he said.
Region
"If this launch is the success I expect it to be it could open the eyes of other major companies who will see what an emerging area this can be for them.
"The M54 corridor could go on to become one of the most attractive areas to major engineering and industrial firms and that would bring thousands of jobs to the region.
"My message would be: come and see what we can do in Telford and invest in this area. I am very excited by the opening."
For a special report on JLR, see today's Shropshire Star
The factory is due to start full-scale production early next year to co-ordinate with manufacture of the new car.
Test production of engines is on the go already and the team at the EMC say they are confident they will be ready.
But in the meantime they are making sure everything at the factory has that extra polish and sparkle for the big day this week.
On Thursday, the Royal Couple will also be visiting the nearby new factory of postage stamp printers ISP, who are moving onto the i54 from the firm's previous home in Walsall.
Her Majesty will be performing the official opening as well as getting a tour of the new facility.
