BAE Systems has announced the opening of a £12 million training facility at its Scotstoun shipyard in Glasgow, a move vital to sustaining Scotland’s shipbuilding workforce.
According to the company, the Applied Shipbuilding Academy is designed to support the development of BAE’s entire workforce, from apprentices to senior leaders, and aims to ensure the industry’s long-term viability.
Spanning 5,500 square metres, the Academy includes a Modern Trade Hall and a Flexible Learning Hub. The Hall offers practical training with realistic ship mock-ups, while the Hub provides teaching spaces, a STEM innovation lab, and conference facilities.
This facility will play a central role in the ongoing development of BAE Systems’ 4,500-strong Naval Ships workforce.
I happened to be nearby last week and popped by for a look.
Paul Feely, Academy and Engineering Director, BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said:
“The Applied Shipbuilding Academy is an extraordinary innovation centre that will enable outstanding learning across our entire workforce and help secure a strong future talent pipeline.
Investing in our people and harnessing the latest technological advancements is fundamental to our mission, enabling us to deliver on the national endeavour that is the Type 26 programme and future projects. This commitment ensures that we can equip navies worldwide with a decisive competitive edge for generations to come.”
Rod Paterson, Chief Executive Officer, National Shipbuilding Office, said:
“The BAE Systems Applied Shipbuilding Academy is a fantastic enduring commitment which will develop a pipeline of skilled workers fit for the future.
I look forward to the contribution the Academy will make to creating a highly skilled workforce and our national shipbuilding capabilities. It is excellent to see the vision become a reality.”
This new facility is part of a broader £300 million investment plan for the Govan and Scotstoun shipyards over the next five years, aimed at supporting the construction of eight Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy.
BAE Systems also highlighted the ongoing construction of the Janet Harvey Hall in Govan, which is expected to accommodate two Type 26 frigates side-by-side, ensuring that work is not affected by poor weather conditions.
The launch of the Applied Shipbuilding Academy reflects BAE Systems’ broader strategy of modernising its facilities and workforce. As always, we’ll continue to keep you updated on the progress of these efforts.
Given how tiny the USA’s ship building capacity is now relative to china (200 times smaller) it’s vital that Britain goes all in on what it can do for naval construction and ship repair. We need academies like this in Liverpool, Belfast and Newcastle as a minimum.
Even if workers aren’t working in the ship building industry there are still massive amounts of other jobs requiring these skills from renewable energy to nuclear power.
Imagine what could be done with even just 1% of our university budget put into this.
I sometimes take a trip up the Yangtze River and Changjiang Estuary (well Google Maps !) just to see the sheer numbers of ships and ship building and dockyard facilities China has just in this one location. It is simply staggering in both numbers and size.
They are certainly on a mission at the moment, who knows just how large their fleet will be in another 10-15 years ?
I bet if we spend money on classrooms we will probably beat the world.. No only joking,…. No it’s a joke… Sorry. It’s a joke, surly this money could….
Spot on Jim; much of the university sector is a disgrace, wasting 3 years of the youngsters’ lives for pointless degrees and a lifetime of debt. The sooner a number of them go bust the better!
10 out of 10
Go to the top of the Class
Good article. Is this where (former) HMS Argyll will go?
Will the tuition fees be £9000 a year? Seriously, this is great news. The polytechnics are back.
About bloody time
The Industry has Awoke but still along way to go in establishing a fully integrated operation fit for purpose
In the Modern Era