Glasgow’s Clyde shipyards’ shortage of steelworkers

SHIPBUILDING on the Clyde has been dealing with a labour shortage as almost 200 jobs remain vacant.

There are at present 190 posts unfilled at BAE and last year the number was higher with around 400 jobs unfilled.

The Clyde yards at Govan and Scotstoun are home to 4587 jobs out of 5605 across six UK sites in the Naval Ships business.

But as managing director Simon Lister explains, the market for workers is a challenge, particularly in steel.

He said: “Previously we have gone to the European market for steelworkers but that’s been a tight market. That’s why we are training our own steelworkers.”

He added: “In Scotland, skills are in short supply. ”

To deal with it the firm has been training staff and is investing longer term in its academy, working with local colleges.

Paul Feely, academy and engineering director, said: “We have contributed to the National Shipbuilding Strategy on skills. Collaboration within the industry has started and we need to build on that.”

He said work is underway on promoting the “attractiveness of the industry”.

Mr Feely added: “We have got a full order book. There is a link between the investment and a full order book. Securing contracts allows us to invest.”

The firm’s apprenticeship programme will be increased to 1000 next year and covers a wide range of occupations from welding to project management and finance.

Mr Feely said a career in shipbuilding is open to people covering a whole range of skills.

He said the company employs 2000 engineers and 800 of those are software engineers.