A visit to a shipyard by the UK Minister for Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge took place at Harland & Wolff's Appledore facility, in north Devon, England.

The company is set to deliver key naval programmes in line with the UK government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh.

Representatives from the company briefed the Minister yesterday on the company’s business plan, comprising a five-market and six-service approach, which is being delivered across Harland & Wolff’s four delivery centres in Appledore, Belfast, Methil and Arnish.

• Visit highlights Harland & Wolff’s capacity to deliver key naval programmes in line with the UK government’s National Shipbuilding Strategy
• The company emphasised the importance of investing in graduates and apprentices, as recommended in the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce Report

It was noted that Harland & Wolff has been investing in and upgrading its yards following the awarding of the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) contract to Team Resolute (comprising Navantia UK, Harland & Wolff and BMT) in January. The contract has unlocked £77m of public and private investment for Harland & Wolff and the company is expected to create 1,200 UK shipyards jobs across its Belfast and Appledore shipyards throughout the contract’s duration.

The Minister heard how the FSS procurement is underpinning growth across the group and that current projects including the fabrication of barges and recently announced SeaRose FPSO contract are helping the company ramp up to deliver the key naval programme.

In particular, the importance of investing in graduates and apprentices to the industry was emphasised. Harland & Wolff now has more than 140 apprentices located across the company’s Belfast, Appledore, Methil and Arnish sites, as part of a drive to secure work for local communities and providing the UK the advanced shipbuilding skills-base it needs.

John Wood, Chief Executive of Harland & Wolff, said: "It was fantastic to have the Minister visit us in Appledore as we ramp up to deliver the FSS programme. Through the £77m investment we’ve received as part of Team Resolute, we’ve been transforming our yards to become some of the most advanced in the world as well as upskilling our workforce, transferring knowledge from Navantia, and welcoming hundreds of new colleagues into the business.

“Harland & Wolff is focused on increasing its competitiveness and is bringing its commercial approach to the world of defence to ensure programmes are delivered on time and on budget. Our recent agreement with Cenovus Energy, to upgrade the SeaRose Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, is a notable vote of confidence in our abilities and we will continue to enhance our capacity and capability to compete across the breadth of our markets.”

James Cartlidge, UK Minister of Defence Procurement, said: "Shipbuilding sites such as Harland & Wolff’s Appledore yard are key to diversifying the UK's industrial maritime capabilities – spreading skills and jobs across the country. It was a real pleasure to see apprentices working at the site, on the pathway to the kind of skilled employment we need to nourish if we are to build a viable industrial base.

The Minister added "I was particularly pleased to see the progress being made to deliver the FSS programme, which is a Royal Navy priority. This demonstrates how participation in a successful procurement bid is helping to underpin long-term, secure jobs, that will be sustained across Harland & Wolff's multiple markets within defence and beyond."

The publication of the UK National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh today by the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Merseyside, has been welcomed by the Society of Maritime Industries. 

SMI CEO Tom Chant said: "The Society of Maritime Industries has played a key role in the development of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and will continue to be a full partner in its evolution.

Safeguarding the UK sovereign shipbuilding capability for complex naval vessels by strengthening the wider commercial maritime industry through this raft of new initiatives is a very important step. The importance of this capability is underlined by tragic events in Ukraine which demonstrate Britain requires the resilience to be able to defend itself as an island nation as well as support our allies around the globe. 

This much anticipated release firmly supports the development of the UK’s shipbuilding enterprise. Our members have consistently told us industry requires confidence. With confidence businesses can invest for the long term, ramping up productivity and apprenticeship programmes. The Government’s firm commitment to a 30 year shipbuilding pipeline shows it is listening and we further welcome the increased emphasis on the social value of shipbuilding. This is a huge step forward which, consistently applied, will help to prevent UK shipbuilding opportunities go abroad.

We look forward to working with the National Shipbuilding Office, providing challenge on behalf of industry where necessary, to drive forward the strategy’s recommendations and to help create a globally successful, innovative and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise."