Cammell Laird takes on record number of apprentices

MERSEYSIDE shipyard Cammell Laird has taken on 22 apprentices, the largest intake since it restarted the programme five years ago.

It means the Birkenhead firm now has 71 apprentices.

The company said some 50 have become qualified tradesmen over the past five years and are still employed at the site.

Last year, Cammell Laird recruited 18 apprentices and had a total of 64 working for the company. The total number of apprentices who have either graduated or are still studying with Cammell Laird now sits at 121.

The new apprentices, all aged between 16 and 23, will study at Cammell Laird and the neighbouring Maritime and Engineering College North West (MECNW) in Birkenhead. Six are working as mechanical fitters, four as pipe fitters and 12 as boiler makers on the four-year programme.

Cammell Laird human resources manager Danny Hart said: “Our structured apprenticeship programme combines class-based learning and critically time spent in the business learning how to put their new skills to real use.

“We have tremendous faith in the industry experience of the tutors and the fantastic facilities at MECNW, complemented by our on-site mentors at Cammell Laird who carry out the foundation training for the apprentices with the college.”

Earlier this month the company confirmed that it could shed around 13% of its 780-strong workforce having completed a number of large orders.

It said it had also been affected by the slow recovery of the UK economy but it is continuing to bid for contracts and is “optimistic” of winning orders. A spokesman said the apprenticeship programme would not be affected by staff cuts.