200 jobs under threat at Cammell Laird

UP to 200 workers at Birkenhead shipyard Cammell Laird are facing the axe as work dries up.

The company says there is no more work lined up after its current contract to build the flight deck of the Royal Navy’s second new aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, comes to an end.

The 200 workers under threat are a quarter of the shipyard’s total workforce.

A statement issued by Cammell Laird said: ““Cammell Laird is principally a marine and engineering contracting service provider. As a result we can have peaks in demand for skilled and semi skilled labour.

“At present our workforce stands at 823 with another 500 indirectly employed in the supply chain.

“This is effectively more than double the workforce of 320 in 2008. The company has experienced significant growth and has an ambitious growth strategy targeting the emerging markets of renewable energy and civil nuclear.

“However, due to varying circumstances these opportunities have suffered due to pressure on the global finance markets and the general speed of the UK’s economic recovery.

“As a contracting business we have to respond to the market and order book and be aware of costs to ensure that the company is in a stable financial position to win future contracts. This is the nature of the business.

“The company manages peaks in demand in an open, professional manner working in partnership with the trade unions, and employment legislation, and remains committed to the workforce and local communities.

“As a result of finishing substantial contracts and without certainty in the award of future contracts, we need to address our cost base. As a consequence around 200 jobs are at risk.
 
“The company is continuing to bid for significant opportunities and remains optimistic of winning orders and achieving long term objectives.”