Mersey shipbuilder and repairer Cammell Laird takes on 50 new apprentices including trainee welders, riggers and shipwrights. Tony McDonough reports

Birkenhead shipyard Cammell Laird has taken on 50 new apprentices. 

Located on the River Mersey, the famous shipbuilder and repairer takes on new apprentices every year. The 2024 intake includes 15 welders, five mechanical fitters, one machinist, six riggers, two shipwrights, 19 platers and two pipefitters.

In August LBN revealed Cammell Laird, part of the national APCL Group, had seen “one of the most successful years in its history” after seeing big percentage rises in both revenues and pre-tax profits.

In the 12 months to March 30, 2024, Lairds saw revenues rise 20% to £146.3m, according to accounts just filed at Companies House. Last year the business returned to profit after five years of losses. Its latest pre-tax profit figure is just under £7m.

APCL offers award winning apprenticeship programmes across the North West, South West and North East of England – and this year 72 apprentices have joined the group in total.

Together, A&P and Cammell Laird recruit at least 70 apprentices each year and the majority have gone straight into full-time, permanent employment upon completion of their initial training.

This new cohort of apprentices started with the business on September 9 and will also attend The Engineering College while they learn their trade.

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David McGinley, chief executive of APCL Group, said: “I am proud to welcome the latest intake of apprentices into our business. Apprenticeships are the lifeblood of APCL, and we consider it a privilege to nurture the future generation of talent.

“I am delighted to see such enthusiasm from young people wanting to achieve careers in the maritime sector and engineering across a wide variety of trades.

“I look forward to seeing them establish successful careers with the company and in addition, along with our second, third and fourth year apprentices across the business, playing their part in building customer success.”