JCB is giving its 19,000-strong global workforce an extra day’s holiday to mark the company’s 80th anniversary later this week.
The Rocester-based digger maker is recognising the outstanding contribution of its employees by giving more than 19,000 people at 22 plants around the world the holiday on Friday, 24 October.
In the UK, it will mean more than 8,000 employees based at JCB’s plants in Staffordshire, Derbyshire and Wrexham will enjoy a long weekend.
This Thursday, 23 October, marks 80 years since the late Josesph Cyril Bamford CBE founded the company in a 12 ft x 15 ft lock up garage in Uttoxeter – the same day his son Anthony was born.
Lord Bamford took over from his father as Chairman in 1975 and has overseen the company’s expansion into a global manufacturer making more than 350 different products for the construction industry and agriculture.
He said: “JCB would be nowhere if it wasn’t for the efforts of our employees around the world and this extra day’s holiday is a small token of my family’s gratitude as we mark our 80th birthday.”
JCB has celebrated a number of milestone moments in this big anniversary year, starting with the approval of its world-first hydrogen combustion engine to be used commercially in machines, then receiving the green light from the government to allow hydrogen diggers to be driven on UK roads and another with the production of its one millionth backhoe loader.
King Charles also visited the company’s headquarters in February as part of its birthday celebrations.
Wow, 80 years. What a phenomenal success story and what a lovely and generous idea to give the entire worldwide workforce a day off to celebrate. Well done to you all.