At Jaguar's plant in Castle Bromwich, production workers have been repainting yellow and white lines on the factory floor. Housekeeping chores have occupied several non-production or "stand-down" days over the past quarter amid deflated demand for the big, thirsty vehicles made by Jaguar and its sister Land Rover brand.

"Unlike other recessions that came in drips, this has just come at us in one go," says Eric McDonald, a regional organiser for the union Unite.