Thursday 21st May 2009

Rolls-Royce Expands Workforce

150 new jobs to be created at Goodwood for Ghost production

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Rolls-Royce has announced it is to increase its Goodwood workforce by around 150 workers in order to cope with the introduction of the new Ghost model.

Yesterday’s announcement will see 150 new positions created as a direct result of the introduction of the new model, bringing the total number of new employees bought into the company in the last two years to nearly 400.

Around 150 new staff will be recruited before the end of the year to add to the 750 staff currently working at the Goodwood site. Many of the positions will be in the leather, wood and paint shops but some will include office jobs to help cope with the necessary administrative duties required when introducing a new model to market. Workers will also be recruited to staff the new Ghost assembly line, which will run along side the other Rolls-Royce models.

The announcement comes at a good time for the car industry that has been on tough ground due to the difficult financial climate. 'This is good news for the British car industry at a time when it is struggling,' says Rolls-Royce CEO Tom Purves. 'Britain has an exceptional talent for automotive production and we are keen to maximize this at Rolls-Royce. Our new model, the Ghost, has enjoyed an extremely positive international response and we now need to put people in place to bring the car to market.'

The new Rolls-Royce Ghost, previously seen at the Geneva motor show as the 200EX concept, will go on sale later next year at a cost of around £170,000. An early production model was snapped earlier in the week waiting for a cross-channel ferry.

[B10]

Why is it not called "Silver Ghost"?

[PaulTypeR]

Cos its not silver.

[scoobsydub]

I was thinking the other day just how beautiful Rolls Royce names have been over the years..Silver Ghost, Pahntom, Corniche, Silver Shadow etc.....

[Monkey boy 1]

scoobsydub said:

Pahntom, ???

Never heard of that one, but they did do a Phantom

[neema_T]

You know, I'm not sure about the Ghost name. I mean, Phantom is alright, it sounds almost kind of evil, same as TVR's Cerbera, being named after Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of hell or something, so I get the whole naming cars after supernatural/mythical creatures thing. 'Ghost', however, just makes me think of that stupid green one in Ghostbusters, or something equally lame and not particularly exciting. I don't mean that as a slight on the car, though (that's not to say I like it either, but it's not designed with my demographic in mind so that's fine), just the name.

Edited by neema_T on Thursday 21st May 11:17

[pokethepope]

neema_T said:

You know, I'm not sure about the Ghost name. I mean, Phantom is alright, it sounds almost kind of evil, same as TVR's Cerbera, being named after Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of hell or something, so I get the whole naming cars after supernatural/mythical creatures thing. 'Ghost', however, just makes me think of that stupid green one in Ghostbusters, or something equally lame and not particularly exciting. I don't mean that as a slight on the car, though (that's not to say I like it either, but it's not designed with my demographic in mind so that's fine), just the name.

Edited by neema_T on Thursday 21st May 11:17

at least its better than 123d or A3 etc etc.......

[Ollieb7]

Are they having to expand the work force so they have at least 3 men to hold up the HUGE mirrors while the other two bolt them on for each Rover?

[scoobsydub]

However nowhere near as evocative sounding as Hyundais Pony...Here we go new topic....What is the best name for a car? I am liking the Cerberus/cerbera very much

[Steameh]

neema_T said:

You know, I'm not sure about the Ghost name. I mean, Phantom is alright, it sounds almost kind of evil, same as TVR's Cerbera, being named after Cerberus, the three-headed guard dog of hell or something, so I get the whole naming cars after supernatural/mythical creatures thing. 'Ghost', however, just makes me think of that stupid green one in Ghostbusters, or something equally lame and not particularly exciting. I don't mean that as a slight on the car, though (that's not to say I like it either, but it's not designed with my demographic in mind so that's fine), just the name.

Edited by neema_T on Thursday 21st May 11:17

I was under the impression it was harking back to their history, in particular the old Silver Ghost

[JB Rugby]

Good news on the new jobs anyway!

[wab172uk]

So they're employing a "Ghost Workforce" then?

[B10]

Most of the original names for saloons (4 doors) were two words; silver ghost, silver shadow, silver cloud, silver spirit, silver spur etc. The exception was the Phantom which was a series of model up to the Phantom VI that were limosines / seriously expensive. Ghost on its own is a bit daft. Silver Ghost would have been better and linked with one of their most celebrated early models.

[tombstone]

hope they look after the people they employ... enough very skilled people have left because they were 'looked down' upon...

[scoobsydub]

wab172uk said:

So they're employing a "Ghost Workforce" then?

I think more skeleton staff.

[cardigankid]

In the current era, don't you think that 'Silver' sounds a bit nancy?

I am not sure that the original Ghost wasn't referred to as such and as a name for a new car it's fine. This is the way forward, innovate, manufacture and sell, and as usual it is an enthusiastic car manufacturer showing the way. Not a climate change cretin or some politician trying to soak up unemployment with bureaucrats.

I am accused of being over simplistic. But the truth is simple. Get off your arses and work.

It also looks like a stunning car for £170k.

[jas16]

hopefully there will be pick-up in the economy as a whole. this is encouraging news. although i can't recall if they laid off people earlier and if so, how many

[PurelyRetro]

scoobsydub said:

However nowhere near as evocative sounding as Hyundais Pony...Here we go new topic....What is the best name for a car? I am liking the Cerberus/cerbera very much

Your a bit dolaly aren't you

[B10]

cardigankid said:

In the current era, don't you think that 'Silver' sounds a bit nancy?

No not in the least. Cardigan does though.

[bristolm]

that's it then,, the economic downturn is over, don't know what all the fuss was about.

[KimZ]

Is it just me or are these Beemer Rollers fugly brutes? Could think of better ways of blowing £170k...

Edited by KimZ on Friday 22 May 17:29