BMW Group Plant Oxford, the production site for the MINI, has given a group of 49 temporary workers the first permanent contracts with the company.All 49 workers will transfer to the BMW Group on 1 November having previously been employed on temporary agency contracts in the final assembly area of the plant.

Commenting on the contracts, Gareth Evans, Human Resources Director at BMW Group Plant Oxford, said: “This is the start of a process to select the best people from our temporary labour force to join the company on permanent contracts and we will be identifying further candidates on a monthly basis. People who have worked at the plant for at least six months will be selected on the strength of their contribution to achievement of the plant’s quality and volume targets, as well as their personal commitment and integration into the team.”

Bernard Moss, Trades Union Convenor at the Oxford plant, said: “We are very pleased. This is good news for the plant and we are looking forward to welcoming many more people joining the company on permanent contracts.”

BMW Group Plant Oxford has recruited around 2,000 people on temporary contracts since April this year to assist in the production launch of the MINI. MINI production is currently running at around 400 vehicles per day on a two-shift operation at the plant and a recruitment drive has been successfully completed ahead of the planned introduction of a third shift to operate at weekends.