Jaguar Land Rover agreed a pay deal with its workers which will beat inflation and gives extra bonuses and a lump sum.

Jaguar Land Rover agreed a pay deal with its workers which will beat inflation and includes a higher holiday bonus and an extra lump sum, in a sign of the pressure facing firms as the cost of living rises after the Brexit vote.

The UK's biggest carmaker built almost one in three of Britain's 1.6 million cars last year but saw its profits fall due to increased investment.

It had originally sought to offer as small a pay rise as possible due to a 40 percent drop in its profits to 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion) and increased spending, including on a new plant in Slovakia, a trade union source told Reuters.

But its UK workers will now receive a two-year pay rise.

In the first year, from this month, workers will get a 3.5 percent hike. In the second year, from November 2017, their wages will go up by the Retail Price Index (RPI) measure of inflation - which currently stands at 2 percent - plus 0.5 percent.

The firm will also pay a lump sum of 750 pounds and an increased holiday bonus of 400 pounds in the first year followed by 410 pounds in the second year.

"We feel that this is a very strong deal agreed by the trade unions and it will be recommended unanimously to its members," a Jaguar Land Rover spokeswoman said.

The automaker, which employs over 30,000 people in the UK, is expanding its product range and plans to open a 1-billion-pound plant in Slovakia.

Brexit vote

But the automaker’s business could be hit by Brexit. The company estimated its profit could be cut by 1 billion pounds by 2020 if the UK returns to World Trade Organization rules for trade with Europe, involving a 10 percent tariff on exports, two sources told Reuters prior to the June referendum.

Brexit could also force bosses in all sectors to offer more generous pay rises in the months ahead as the sharp fall in the value of the pound pushes up inflation and reduces many people's spending power.

"We make all the cars here, we make all the profit here and we want the pay rise here," the trade union source told Reuters.

Unions are recommending the deal is accepted by workers with the result of a ballot due on Nov. 25

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Vauxhall delivers the UK's biggest ever fleet deal to the Police Force, with a two year multi Million pound deal.

• Police forces nationwide sign 2,000 vehicle contract
• Order includes 1,200 arresting Astras bound for UK forces

Vauxhall has signed one of the UK’s biggest Police fleet deals with over 2,000 vehicles, including 1,200 Brit-built Astras, destined for Police forces nationwide under a huge group tender.

The two-year multi-million pound contract also includes Corsas, Insignias and Brit-built Vivaro vans. This order cements Vauxhall’s position as the largest provider of low and intermediate performance cars to the UK Police, with a 60 per cent share of competitive markets.

All Astra models can be equipped with the ground-breaking OnStar technology which keeps the car connected via satellite and cellular networks, turning the vehicle in to a high-speed 4G LTE mobile hub with connectivity for up to seven smartphones or tablets. OnStar even includes a Police-spec ignition block, which can be triggered remotely in the event of a vehicle being stolen.

Procurement for the mammoth sale was led by West Midlands Police with vehicles set to join 28 Police forces including:

• Avon and Somerset
• Bedfordshire
• British Transport Police
• Cambridgeshire
• City of London Police
• Civil Nuclear Constabulary
• Devon and Cornwall
• Dorset
• Essex
• Gloucestershire
• Hampshire
• Hertfordshire
• Kent
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Norfolk
• Northamptonshire
• Northumbria
• Nottinghamshire
• Staffordshire
• Suffolk
• Surrey
• Sussex
• Thames Valley
• Warwickshire
• West Mercia
• West Midlands
• Wiltshire

Six fire and rescue services are also included in the agreement which sees vehicles heading to East and West Sussex, Northamptonshire, Shropshire, Surrey and Staffordshire.

David Wilkin, West Midlands Police’s Director of Resources and the national policing lead for the procurement of vehicles commented: “A vehicle purchasing collaboration between police forces and partners on this scale has never been seen before and I am delighted to say that it has been a huge success in terms of the savings made and how well the organisations have worked together.

“The success of this group builds on the achievements of a large scale vehicle procurement project led by West Yorkshire Police earlier in the year. While cost is clearly a driving factor, the most important aspect is that these vehicles need to be the safest ones available for our staff and the public.”

“We are delighted to supply the Police with this huge order,” said Rory Harvey, Vauxhall’s Chairman and Managing Director. “Efficiency is a top priority for all Police forces and the investment made in these Vauxhalls will mean officers spend more time preventing crime.”

Peugeot extends sponsorship deal with the ATP to include a personal deal with Brit Doubles ace Jamie Murray.

• PEUGEOT is supporting the sporting efforts of champion tennis player Jamie Murray as his Official sponsor for the next two years
• News follows the recent PEUGEOT global partnership announcement with the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals)
• PEUGEOT has had long associations with the sport of tennis

PEUGEOT is proud to announce its new two year sponsorship deal with Jamie Murray, Britain's No. 1 doubles tennis player. The sponsorship starts with immediate effect and will support Murray in his competition efforts to the end of 2017.

Elder brother of two-time Grand Slam singles champion, Andy Murray, Jamie specialises in doubles tennis and is currently ranked as Britain’s No 1 men’s double player. Jamie claimed victory in the Grand Slam mixed doubles final at Wimbledon in 2007. He has also appeared in three other Grand Slam finals in both men’s and mixed doubles. He has won a total of 13 ATP titles throughout his career.

PEUGEOT is supporting Jamie with his competitive efforts for the next two years which will hopefully see Jamie achieve further victories around the world.It is the latest development from PEUGEOT, which has had an involvement in tennis for more than three decades, recently announcing a new partnership deal with Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).

From 2016, PEUGEOT will also become a Platinum partner of the ATP World Tour as well as the Official Car supplier at more than 20 ATP World Tour tournaments, with some 500 vehicles – 508, 3008, 5008, and the Expert Tepee – providing first class transportation services for players, officials, VIPs and special guests to the events.

“PEUGEOT shares tennis’ values of performance, innovation and elegance,” said Maxime Picat, Peugeot CEO. “These are the same values that we aim to share with our customers. This new sponsorship of Jamie Murray is an expression of the support PEUGEOT provides tennis as a sport, its sports men and women and the parallels between these and the PEUGEOT brand and products.

Jamie Murray added; “This new sponsorship is fantastic news and will prove invaluable in my competition efforts. I’ll be very proud to sport the PEUGEOT lion on my sleeve at competitions all over the world over the next two years.  It’s great to see PEUGEOT extending their involvement with tennis and I am delighted to be a part of their team going forward’