Jaguar Land Rover is to create a major international training centre in Warwick.

The vehicle manufacturer, which was recently bought out by Tata Motors, has taken a lease on the former Books for Students building at Bird Road, Heathcote through property consultants D&P Holt.

It will use the 50,000 sq ft building to house a joint technical academy which will replace current operations at Gaydon and Castle Bromwich.

Around 50 jobs will be created in the town by the move, while around 100 people will receive training at the academy on a daily basis.

John Ward (left) and Rupert Gillitt

John Ward, Manager - Service Development & Communications of Jaguar Land Rover, said the new centre was ideally located for the company.

“The Academy will be used to train and instruct a whole host of people ranging from 14-year-old students on our schools scheme, through to those on our Train the Trainer programme who travel to us from across the globe.

“All our apprentices come through the academy as well as technical staff who have recently joined the company or those upgrading their skills. All our technicians will be trained at the complex and it will be the centre of a network of academies.

“Our Land Rover technical academy at Gaydon was on land which was part of the sale to Aston Martin, so it made sense to create a new complex taking in that centre as well as the Jaguar operation at Castle Bromwich.”

The new academy is due to take in its first trainees early next year once fit out is completed.

The letting was arranged by property consultants D&P Holt, and director Rupert Gillitt said it would be a big boost to the local economy.

“This is great news for Warwick and Leamington. It is good to have a leading name such as Jaguar Land Rover in the local business community and there is no doubt there will be a significant economic impact for hotels, restaurants and other businesses.

“This is a landmark industrial building and it is good to see it in the hands of such an iconic company.”