A new state-of-the-art shipbuilding facility in Scotland’s largest city will ensure the vital industry thrives “for generations,” its owners have said.
BAE systems have opened a new £12m Applied Shipbuilding Academy at its Scotstoun shipyard to train a new workforce “from new starters to senior leaders”.
The Academy will be a key training facility for all the apprentices and graduates in the Company’s Naval Ships business, and will provide life-long learning and skills development activities for around 4,500 employees.
The Academy comprises a Modern Trade Hall and a Flexible Learning Hub, offering a high quality, hands-on training environment where learners are fully immersed in realistic ship mock-ups.
The adjacent Hub houses over 30 teaching spaces, a cutting-edge science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) innovation lab, an exhibition area and conference space.
The investment is being put in pace to ensure that current and future employees reach their full potential in priority areas for the shipbuilding and maritime industry.
Scotland’s shipbuilding is currently experiencing a mini-boom, with the size of its workforce growing to 6,700 recorded in 2021.
The industry remains a billion-pound sector, turning over £1.022 billion that year.
Paul Feely, Academy and Engineering Director, BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, said the new training facility will "help secure a strong future talent pipeline” as the industry continues to grow in the coming years.
He said: "The Applied Shipbuilding Academy is an extraordinary innovation centre that will enable outstanding learning across our entire workforce
"Investing in our people and harnessing the latest technological advancements is fundamental to our mission, enabling us to deliver on the national endeavor 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."
The Academy in Glasgow is BAE Systems’ third dedicated training facility, and follows similar investments in both Samlesbury and Barrow-in-Furness in the North West of England.
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The company employs almost thousands of people across Scotland in diverse jobs, including at its Naval Ships business in Glasgow, manufacturing facilities at Hillend, regional aircraft operations in Prestwick and at RAF Lossiemouth.
The new academies facilities use the knowledge and experience of the Company’s training staff to provide a modern learning environment for BAE Systems’ near 40,000 strong workforce across the UK.
The new facilities, together with a range of additional investments in technologies and equipment, form an overall £300m investment in BAE Systems’ two shipbuilding sites in Glasgow over the next five years.
The opening of the academy comes as construction of the Janet Harvey Hall, a cutting-edge new shipbuilding facility in Govan, remains well under way.
Once complete, this 170-metre long and 80-metre-wide structure will provide the space and services for BAE Systems to build two frigates, side-by-side, and will help enable efficient and safe shipbuilding for decades to come with future work unaffected by adverse weather.
BAE says these investments are ‘key elements in the modernisation and digitalisation’ of both the Govan and Scotstoun yards, supporting the delivery of the eight Type 26 frigates ordered by the Royal Navy, as well as potential future orders.
Analysis of the latest government figures shows that, the Scottish shipbuilding sector employed 0.36% of Scotland’s total workforce, with an estimated six ships built over the course of a year, all of which were either workboat or fishing vessels.
In November 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems a £4.2 billion contract to build five more Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy in Glasgow.
These frigates are part of the City Class and will be anti-submarine warfare ships. The first of the Batch 2 ships, HMS Birmingham, was announced in September 2018, and the remaining ships are HMS Sheffield, HMS Newcastle, HMS Edinburgh, and HMS London.
The first ship, HMS Glasgow, is currently being outfitted and is expected to undergo sea trials in 2026. The Navy is expected to receive the remaining frigates between 2028 and 2035
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.”
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