Construction starts on £12m shipbuilding academy
WORK has begun on a new £12 million academy at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun.
The Applied Shipbuilding Academy – which will comprise a modern trade hall and flexible learning hub – will aim to support the development of the BAE workforce, from apprentices to senior leaders, and forms part of the company’s ongoing commitment to develop future talent.
It’s hoped the new initiative will accelerate the modernisation of Glasgow’s historic shipbuilding industry, upskilling the existing workforce whilst attracting new talent to secure its future for generations to come.
Paul Feely, academy and engineering director at BAE, said: “This new training facility is an exciting demonstration of our commitment to shipbuilding on the Clyde, allowing us to further support thousands of highly skilled jobs in Scotland.
“Our investment in Glasgow will help us to deliver the national endeavour that is the Type 26 programme and ensure that we can provide navies around the world with a competitive edge in the decades to come.”
A historic industrial building will be retrofitted to become the trade hall, with areas dedicated to each shipbuilding trade, ship-realistic mock-up environments and research & technology facilities.
Immediately adjacent will be a flexible learning hub, containing more than 30 classrooms, a STEM innovation lab and office facilities.
On completion in the second half of 2024, the Shipbuilding Academy will provide bespoke training for almost 4500 employees, including nearly 700 apprentices.
These new facilities will also enable a substantial expansion of the successful early careers programmes at BAE Systems, doubling the intake in Glasgow to more than 200 new apprentices each year.
Rex Cox, chief executive officer, National
Shipbuilding Office, added: “Our work with the UK Shipbuilding Skills Task Force identified the urgent need to invest in shipbuilding skills.
“At the National Shipbuilding Office, we are heartened to see such tangible action being taken in response to our collective call for upskilling the industry and we look forward to the positive impact this academy will have on our national shipbuilding capabilities.”
The academy in Glasgow is the third dedicated training facility which BAE Systems has created, following similar investments in Samlesbury and Barrow-in-Furness in the North West of England.
Together, the facilities support the training and development of BAE Systems’ near 40,000-strong workforce across the UK. BAE Systems has a longestablished tradition of recruiting and training apprentices and graduates and almost doubled its investment in education, skills and early career activities to £180m over the past two years.
Construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan is also under way and, together with a range of additional investments in technologies and equipment, it forms part of an overall £300m investment in the two sites over the next five years.
BAE Systems has also announced that it is recruiting almost 300 apprentices and graduates to join its Naval Ships business in Glasgow in 2024.
The closing date for apprentice applications is February 28.