Jack, how did The Bang get involved in the JLR Challenge?
We’re always up for a good challenge, especially when we can take it on as a team. Last year, a few colleagues, who work in the internal Jaguar Land Rover team, took on the JLR Challenge and came back raving about it. So, when we heard it was happening again this year, we were ready—hiking boots and all.
Getting into the challenge is the first big step. They run a ballot, and out of 200 teams, only 80 teams of 6 are lucky enough to get picked. So, when we got a spot, we were buzzing! We’d also secretly been wanting to do a team hike for a while, so it felt like the stars had aligned—plus, it gave us the chance to fundraise for a charity that’s close to our hearts.
Our team, "Bangers and Mash," was a mix of four designers from The Bang, along with Tom and Matt from JLR’s internal team, which we’re all part of. Even though we work closely day-to-day, it was awesome to step out of the office and do something different together for a change.
Why did you want to do the JLR 2024 Challenge?
This year’s challenge had a lot of meaning for us. Over the past two years, we’ve built a really strong relationship with the JLR team. What started with collaborating with their Manchester office has now grown into working with their teams across various sites.
We’ve become pretty embedded in their day-to-day operations and have built close connections with their designers, managers, and other teams. So, this wasn’t just a charity hike—it felt like a chance to meet more of the people who make JLR what it is.
How was it meeting the other JLR teams?
It was a great experience. Because of the nature of our relationship with JLR, we usually stay in our own little tech bubble and don’t get to meet many other teams face-to-face. But the challenge gave us the perfect excuse to get out and meet people from all over JLR—from Halewood’s production line to Whitley’s engineering teams and even the brainpower at Gaydon.
We also bumped into some of the company’s leaders, like Lennard Hoornik and Thomas Müller. They were super down-to-earth and easy to chat with.
Being a part of this event gave us a real sense of just how far-reaching JLR’s operations are. It was eye-opening to connect with so many different people and learn more about what they do.
Tell us about the challenge—how did it go?
We were a mix of excitement and nerves! Some of us are more experienced hikers than others, but it was a 33km trek through everything the Welsh countryside could throw at us—wind, rain, sunshine, and more rain. It was tough, but we had fun in that “my legs are burning, but I’m still loving this” kind of way. There were also activities dotted along the trek too, so we got to try our hand at archery and kayaking, along with route-planning as a team.
Our team of six stuck together through every climb and downpour, and after 10 long hours, we finally crossed the finish line.
I’ve got to say, the whole event was brilliantly organised. From the night before to the send-off on Sunday morning, everything was seamless. It really felt like a JLR event, with a lot of thought put into every little detail. The staff on-site were fantastic—always smiling and super helpful, which really kept us going, especially when the weather was lashing us with rain.
Oh, and the cars! We were welcomed by a lineup of Discovery's celebrating 35 years of the iconic car. And with the new Range Rovers and the Defender Octa on display throughout the event, you could really feel the prestige and heritage of the brand. It was also cool to see the cars in their "natural" environment!
What was the highlight of the weekend?
The awards ceremony was definitely a highlight. In previous years, they only celebrated the Top 10 teams, but this time, every single team was called up for a medal and a round of applause. It didn’t matter where you landed on the leaderboard—everyone’s efforts were recognised.
The atmosphere got even better when the JLR heads announced that they would match every donation raised by the 80 teams! They literally doubled the impact of everyone’s fundraising, which we all thought was an amazing gesture.
So, how would you sum up the 2024 JLR Challenge?
Epic. Whether it was bonding as a team, meeting new people from across JLR, or pushing ourselves to the limit, it’s an experience we won’t forget. After two years of working with JLR, this challenge made us feel even more connected to the brand and the incredible people behind it.
We’ve already got our sights set on next year—who knows, maybe we’ll even crack the Top 10!
