Powerhouse: JCB’s economic contribution to the UK

Supporter: JCB

JCB’s total economic contribution (direct, indirect & induced) is equivalent to 1.2% of UK manufacturing sector GDP.

Above: JCB’s prototype hydrogen-powered backhoe loader

Like the whole automotive and machinery sectors, the Covid pandemic affected JCB’s production – both demand and the shortage of critical parts like semiconductors – and the digger manufacturer had to reduce headcount accordingly. In 2022, the company has bounced back to near full capacity at its 11 UK factories and is making particularly strong progress with its low/zero carbon powered equipment – hydrogen powered backhoes and its electric compact equipment range.

For one company it packs a huge punch, for manufactured output, GVA, exports, jobs and indirect jobs and purchasing power from UK companies. Here is a summary of the company’s contribution to the UK economy.

An independent analysis by Oxford Economics showed that:

JCB’s export revenues of over £1.2 billion make a significant contribution to the UK’s trade balance, accounting for 28% of all exports of construction and mining equipment from the UK.

JCB employs nearly three times as many people as it did 20-years ago. UK manufacturing jobs have fallen by more than 37% over the same time.

Overall, JCB contributes £2.3 billion to GDP, £664 million to the Exchequer and 37,400 jobs to the UK economy.

JCB is a leading global player

JCB is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of construction equipment. It sells over 300 different machines to customers in over 150 countries through its global network of 770 dealers and 2,000 depot locations. Recent years have been among the most successful in the company’s 77-year history. Annual turnover in 2019 was £4.1bn.

JCB is a British manufacturing success story and one of the UK’s biggest privately owned companies

JCB has grown to become one of the UK’s most respected manufacturing companies since it was established in 1945. As a privately-owned family business, it remains committed to manufacturing a broad range of innovative products in the UK, where 11 of its 22 factories are located. JCB is a leading exporter, with over 75% of its UK production sold to overseas markets. JCB accounts for 0.4% of all manufactured goods exported from the UK.

JCB is a leading UK employer

JCB employs over 15,000 people around the world, of whom over 7,500 work in the UK. As an employer in the manufacturing sector, these jobs are well-paid positions that add real value to the UK economy in terms of the taxes paid by employees to the Exchequer, together with National Insurance Contributions (NICs) paid by JCB.

JCB is a profitable UK enterprise

JCB is a productive and lean manufacturer of added-value products that generate profits, on which the company pays corporation tax, with retained profits reinvested back into the business to fund R&D and sales growth. Many raw materials and components used by JCB are purchased from UK suppliers, which employ people to support JCB and make profits from the trading relationship. l

JCB’s total economic contribution to the UK

JCB makes a large contribution to the UK economy

JCB’s contribution to the UK economy is significant. There is a direct impact through its manufacturing and service operations in the UK, an indirect impact through the UK supply chain in place to support JCB, an induced impact through spending by JCB employees and suppliers’ employees and a further catalytic impact through the company’s wider R&D activities. JCB’s UK dealers also make a large contribution to the UK economy.