Welder: ‘We’ll prove doubters wrong’

THE newly-qualified welder who launched Ferguson Marine’s latest - and possibly last - large vessel has declared that the yard deserves more work as it sets out to prove its doubters wrong.

Beth Atkinson, who completed her apprenticeship last year and was given the honour of naming MV Glen Rosa yesterday, said she was ‘overwhelmed’ by the ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and hopes she and her female colleagues - who joined her on a special podium - can inspire future generations in the industry.

The 28-year-old told the Telegraph:

“I was taken upstairs and I was told that I’d been picked by management to launch and name the vessel a couple of weeks ago.

“I was a bit overwhelmed, I was like ‘Me? Is it me you want?’

“But it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I would never have knocked it back.

“I got a bit of stick off my colleagues and friends but it was in good jest.

“There aren’t many female apprentices in this yard and I’m the only one on the shopfloor, so it was nice to get us up there doing a wee bit. Hopefully we can inspire the next generation of females at the yard.”

Beth, from Clydebank, said the negative words aimed at the yard in recent times have not gone unnoticed but she is hopeful of a brighter future.

She added: “We’ve got a reputation just now that we want to change.

“I do think we deserve more contracts, I don’t think the people in here deserve to have the yard shutting with because the guys I work with are experienced, good qualified tradesmen who have all been teaching the next generation.

“I think the yard should stay open, I think we should get contracts in and I think we should get the work.

“People might not believe us but I think we can prove them wrong.”