Navantia UK has won a second new vessel export contract for its Methil yard in Fife and is recruiting sixty skilled workers, according to the company.
The roles are for experienced welders and platers along with riggers, scaffolders and painters, and follow a first export order secured earlier this year and the completion at Methil of the Navantia UK Seahorse, the barge supporting delivery of the Fleet Solid Support programme for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
The company recently announced a further £12 million for the site covering training facilities, machinery, infrastructure and new technology, taking total investment to £26.7 million since it acquired the yard in January 2025. The workforce has grown from 180 to 275 over that period, with 75 apprentices now in training.
Steve Chisholm, general manager at Methil, said: “Winning another export contract shows the progress being made at Methil and the confidence customers are placing in the yard.
“With Seahorse completed, new work coming in and investment going into the site, we are now recruiting more skilled people to help build the yard’s future workload.”
Katherine Thorn, head of talent and culture at Navantia UK, said: “These are good skilled jobs, with the opportunity to work on significant programmes, develop long-term careers and contribute to the future of shipbuilding in Fife.
“We are looking for experienced welders and platers who want to join a growing team at a yard with a proud industrial heritage and a stronger pipeline of work.”
Rhea Wolfson, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “Under new ownership, this shipyard is going from strength to strength with new investment being reflected in orders and recruitment.
“The importance of these skilled jobs and quality apprenticeships to the communities of Fife and Scotland’s industrial capability cannot be overstated.”
The company put three of its tradesmen forward to describe the work. Allan Lister, a plater who started at the yard in 1985, said: “I’ve worked all over Britain, and the guys you worked with here, nine times out of ten, were better than anybody else.” Peter Ednie, who began as a burner in 1982, said: “I’ve cut steel over 300 millimetres thick.” Welder Willie Gibson, who also joined in 1982, said of the intake coming through: “We’ve got some really good apprentices.”
Navantia UK said Methil is well placed to support the floating docks programme for His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, following the Chancellor’s announcement this month that the infrastructure will be built and delivered in British shipyards. Scottish Labour said last week that a shortage of trained welders in Scotland has meant Babcock using workers from overseas on the Type 31 frigate programme at Rosyth, a few miles along the same coast.
