Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird has started its annual search for a new intake of apprentices across a variety of different trades – and there is only a short time left to apply. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyside shipyard Cammell Laird is inviting applications for its 2022 apprenticeship programme.

Located on the banks of the River Mersey in Birkenhead, Cammell Laird is looking to take on 44 new trainees in a variety of different trades. They include welders, platers, pipefitters, mechanical fitters, shipwrights, plant maintenance and riggers.

Cammell Laird Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders is one of the UK’s leading shipbuilders and repairers has a proud history of training apprentices in a number of trades across the business and supporting them into full time careers.

Most of its apprentices have gone straight into full-time permanent employment upon completion of their initial training and many have been able to gain further qualifications and progress their careers within the business, including up to director level.

LBN reported in April that Cammell Laird had enjoyed a busy start to 2022 with multiple vessels sailing into its Birkenhead yard for upgrades.

In March, the yard also hosted a national event that saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson visit to unveil the Government’s refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy, a rolling 30-year programme of new vessels with contracts worth billions of pounds.

Last year the yard completed its work on the £200m polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough. Building the 15,000-tonne ship took four years and among the 1,300 people who worked on the project were 70 apprentices.

Chief executive David McGinley said: “This is certainly an exciting time for our business, demonstrating Cammell Laird’s ambition and commitment to our employees and customers and sustainable employment in the North West region.

“At Cammell Laird we understand the importance of nurturing careers and developing the future of our workforce, as well as developing the vital skills our industry needs to secure the future of British shipbuilding.”

The deadline for applications is Friday, June 3, and all applications should be made through the Engineering College. Click here to apply or get further information.