Work begins on new £12m shipbuilding academy in Scotstoun, Glasgow

Work has begun on a new academy that will “accelerate the modernisation of Glasgow’s historic shipbuilding industry”.

The Applied Shipbuilding Academy at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard will provide training for almost 4,500 employees, including nearly 700 apprentices, and will help upskill the existing workforce.

The Academy, on the banks of the River Clyde, will be based in a historic industrial building that will be retrofitted to become the modern trade hall.

It will have areas dedicated to each shipbuilding trade, ship-realistic mock up environments and research and technology facilities.

A Flexible Learning Hub will be created adjacent with more than 30 classrooms, a STEM innovation lab and office facilities.

It’s expected that the development will be completed in the second half of 2024.

The construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan is also under way, forming part of an overall £300m investment by the company over two sites in Glasgow in the next five years.

A spokesperson for BAE said: “These new facilities will enable a substantial expansion of the successful early careers programmes at BAE Systems, doubling the intake in Glasgow to more than 200 new apprentices each year.

The Academy in Glasgow is the third dedicated training facility which BAE Systems has created, following similar investments in Samlesbury and Barrow-in-Furness in the north west of England. Together, the facilities support the training and development of BAE Systems’ near 40,000 strong workforce across the UK.

“BAE Systems has a long-established tradition of recruiting and training apprentices and graduates and almost doubled its investment in education, skills and early careers activities to £180m over the past two years.

“These investments will greatly enhance productivity of the shipyards to support the delivery of the eight Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy and potential future orders.

“BAE Systems has also announced that it is recruiting almost 300 apprentices and graduates to join its Naval Ships business in Glasgow in 2024. The closing date for apprentice applications is 28 February 2024.”