Shipbuilding

The River Clyde has a long history as one of the world’s greatest shipbuilding centres. Over the last two centuries a wide variety of ships have been built. However, times have changed and both the size of the industry and the number of people employed has decreased. Today the shipbuilding industry on the Clyde concentrates on the manufacture and support of naval ships. BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions employs over 4,000 staff at its Govan and Scotstoun shipyards. Babcock Naval Services at the HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane employs around 1400 staff and altogether the base employs some 7,000, half of them civilian.

Despite this long-term decline it is a surprising good time to consider a career in shipbuilding. Prospects for the industry as a whole are currently good; with continuing Royal Navy orders. The Ministry of Defence has recently placed orders for the new UK CVF Royal Navy aircraft carriers, so there will be a need to increase the size of the workforce. In addition, the current workforce is ageing so there will be job opportunities created by the need to replace workers.

Read our case study on shipbuilding.

Key facts and figures

• BAE Systems has recruited over 400 apprentices in the last five years.
• A further 120 Modern Apprentices are expected to be recruited by BAE Systems in September 2007.
• HM Naval Base Clyde maintains Britain’s nuclear submarine fleet and mine sweepers.

See weblinks for local employers.

For more information on shipbuilding:

Shipbuilders & Ship Repairers Association

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technol

Careers Scotland