In March Merseyside shipyard and engineering firm Cammell Laird admitted it was ‘inefficient and uncompetitive’ and said it would have to reduce its workforce. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyside shipyard and engineering firm Cammell Laird says is cutting 146 people from its workforce after they agreed to voluntary redundancy.

In March, the Birkenhead firm said it was being forced to reduce its 722-strong workforce, admitting its current business model was “inefficient and uncompetitive”. It then embarked on a HR1 consultation process.

It said it had too little work for the number of people it employs. It said it was hoping to avoid compulsory redundancies. In a statement on Tuesday, it said: “Cammell Laird is pleased to announce the conclusion of its HR1 Process, which has resulted in 146 voluntary redundancies.

“The business will now embark on a programme of transformation, which will lead to Cammell Laird becoming a technical economy with a multi-skilled workforce which is trained and equipped to understand future technologies. We will continue to develop our apprenticeship programme and bring in a minimum of 25 apprentices each year.

“These next steps of our journey will ensure Cammell Laird is agile and competitive, and able to deliver our current order book and secure future contracts. Cammell Laird will stand ready to compete in the marketplace with a business which is sustainable for many years to come.”

Cammell Laird has recently completed the building of the £200m polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough. Maintenance contracts the firm currently has on its books include a long-term agreement to service the UK’s Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels.

In January it won a five year contract to service the five-strong fleet of one of the UK’s largest ferry operators, CalMac Ferries. Last month it said it was confident of winning more work with ferry operators with the UK coming out of lockdown.

In May 2020, Cammell Laird’s long-serving chief executive, John Syvret, stepped down from his role and was replaced by David McGinley. Tony Graham also stepped down from his role as chief operating officer at the same time.