MG Motor UK is launching a special scheme for employees of local industry, councils and other organisations.

Membership of the first MG Privileged Members Car Scheme is being offered to the 46,000 people who work for Birmingham City Council. Other schemes will follow shortly.

In one of his first engagements since being appointed, the new Leader of Birmingham City Council, Sir Albert Bore, today pledged his commitment to both MG Motor UK and the council workforce when he launched the first partnership car scheme.

Sir Albert is keen for others in the private and public sector to follow his lead. He said: “The new administration is delighted to support this initiative. Our policy is to buy Birmingham wherever possible. This will create work in the city and get our people back in jobs.

“MG’s new scheme will give Birmingham City Council staff an incentive to buy Birmingham when they are thinking of buying a car. This can only be good for the city.

“Council employees have been affected both financially and in terms of morale in recent years with huge changes to their terms and conditions through Equal Pay and the Birmingham Contract. And this deal is part of our Fresh Start to thank and value our dedicated and loyal workforce.

“I want to make it quite clear that supporting MG will be a council priority. We are delighted that there are 400 highly-skilled jobs at Longbridge. Just a few years ago we were faced with the prospect of an empty site and the loss of those skills. MG has shown a commitment to Birmingham. We will show a commitment to MG.”

Guy Jones, sales and marketing director of MG Motor UK, said: “We have had great support from Birmingham City Council ever since MG Motor UK started operating and recognise that the council is one of the largest employers in the region.

“We are happy to extend our partnership even further by offering council employees membership of the Privileged Car Scheme and hope that many will soon be driving our great cars.”

Click Here to read how Britain's biggest union Unite has called on public bodies to buy local to support UK automotive manufacturing.