Forums Forums Local News Lairds take on apprentices

THE newly-relaunched Cammell Laird shipyard has strengthened its workforce by recruiting 20 new young apprentices.

The recruits, aged between 17 and 20, are all from Merseyside and take the total number of apprentices in training to 49, learning key skills such as plating, welding, pipe fitting and mechanical engineering.

Among them is the first female apprentice at the shipyard for seven years, 17-year-old Lacey Cudden from Moreton, who is training to be a mechanical fitter specialising in working on ships’ engines.

She told the Globe: “I’ve always wanted to do engineering, so I thought I’d come here and give it a try. I’m aiming to work on the shop floor and try and work my way up. The lads don’t leave me out and I get involved in everything, it’s a good team.”

Also in the group is apprentice mechanical engineer Paul Hynes, 18, from Bebington, who said: “At first I didn’t even want to come to Cammell Laird, but I saw a documentary about the Falklands, which mentioned that some of the ships were made here and that made me quite proud.

“The tutors have a really good insight into everything. I’m quite proud to work at the yard, particularly in the new era.”

The firm’s management team relaunched the shipyard as Cammell Laird last month. It had been trading as Northwestern Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders since 2001, establishing itself as one of Europe’s premier shiprepair, conversion and military refit companies.

The company has managed to pre-qualify for the construction of large sections of the country’s future aircraft carrier project. If successful Laird will significantly increase the number of employees. Danny Hart, Laird HR manager, said: “There is a huge skills gap we need to fill to meet our commercial obligations. So under the close supervision of our vastly experienced instructors and mentors we will be training these young people in highly skilled disciplines.

“Historically this shipyard has built its reputation on the quality of its workmanship, so the skills of our workforce are absolutely critical to the future success of Cammell Laird. We have a long and proud history of employing and training local people with skills for life.

“It is fantastic to see the relaunched Cammell Laird bringing back that tradition.”

absolute joke, modern apprenticis....should be called dark age apprentices. These poor lads are are abused, cheap labour more often then not and some thing really needs to be done.

what makes you say that?