Jaguar Land Rover has doubled the number of graduates it plans to recruit this year.

The company plans to hire 280 graduates in 2011 compared to 135 last year.

The 280 graduates will be hired for a variety of roles across the business including product development, engineering, manufacturing, finance, human resources, IT, marketing and purchasing. The company’s graduate scheme runs for two years.

Applications are up 68% in 2010 and have more than tripled in two years, says the company.

Jaguar Land Rover’s HR director, Des Thurlby, says: “Our plans over the next few years will see us spending billions of pounds to research and develop exciting new products and technologies. This investment will secure Jaguar Land Rover’s position as an innovative, world-class manufacturer of luxury vehicles.”