A Fresh Start
Earlier this year, Bentley announced plans to cut up to 275 jobs amid headwinds such as weaker demand in China and U.S. tariffs, as all of its cars are produced at its Crewe factory in the U.K. That’s about 6% of the company’s U.K.-based workforce, with management describing the move as an adjustment to ensure long-term competitiveness.
Now, a new press release announces Bentley’s plans to invest in early-career talent, offering 93 opportunities, including 29 apprenticeships, 15 graduate roles, and 49 industrial placements. These programs could also serve as pathways to longer-term employment, which may be timely given that the brand recently expanded to four core model lines with the Torcal, with another EV not expected until after 2030.
Putting Talent to Work
Bentley’s apprenticeship programs combine paid work with academic qualifications up to degree level, while its two-year graduate program provides hands-on experience to support professional growth. Meanwhile, industrial placements allow university students to gain 12 months of practical experience working alongside industry professionals in fields related to their studies.
These programs cover positions in Research & Development, Manufacturing, IT, and Sales & Marketing.
This hiring push follows the launch of Bentley’s first EV, the Torcal. Dubbed an urban SUV, it shares several components with the Porsche Cayenne Electric, including Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture. Bentley originally planned to go all-electric by 2030, but slower-than-expected EV demand prompted the automaker to abandon that deadline. This means gas-powered and plug-in hybrid models will remain part of its Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga lineups for the foreseeable future.
In addition, the new generation of talent is arriving as the £350 million (approximately $462 million) transformation of Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe nears completion.
Time to Get on Board
Bentley is now taking applications for its 2027 industrial placement program until October 23, 2026, while applications for apprenticeships will open in February 2027.
While the recruitment drive may not immediately offset the British luxury marque’s planned job cuts, it could help develop the technical expertise needed for its expanding product portfolio. Any boost to the brand’s fortunes would be welcome, as global deliveries fell by 4.8% to 10,131 vehicles last year. This year is also shaping up to be rough, with first-half 2026 deliveries down 13.6% to 4,211 vehicles from the same period in 2025.
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