Rolls Royce Ghost creates new jobs

Rolls Royce has announced it is creating 150 new jobs at Goodwood to build the new RR Ghost

We’ve seen lots on the Rolls Royce Ghost over recent months. From spy shots earlier in the year, to the reveal at Geneva and then a barely camouflaged Ghost at Dover Docks last week, it’s obvious that work on the production-ready version of the RR Ghost is well under way.

But the RR Ghost will be a bigger volume car than the Phantom, and Rolls Royce need to get production staff in place for the car’s production later this year and its release in the very early part of 2010. So Rolls Royce has announced it is creating 150 new jobs at its Goodwood facility to cope with production of the new car.

It is true to say that Rolls Royce has not been completely immune from the downturn in the Motor Industry. It has had to lay of some contract and temporary workers, and has even had production shutdowns for short periods. But it is good news for the industry in general that Rolls Royce are looking to future recovery and pushing ahead with the new Ghost.

The Ghost is going to be built on its own dedicated production line, but will share some of the craftsmen elements – such as leather and wood – with its Phantom sibling. So workers are being recruited in these specialisms as well as for the new production line.

Despite the small number of layoffs, Rolls Royce sales are actually up this year – no mean feat in this economy – and this latest jobs announcement will mean Rolls Royce will have almost doubled its workforce at Goodwood in the last two years.

A light at the end of the tunnel, or just an indication that the rich will always be rich?