Cammell Laird success creates jobs boom (From Wirral Globe)

Cammell Laird success creates jobs boom

12:25pm Tuesday 21st August 2012 in News

The success of shipyard Cammell Laird has created a jobs boom for the town.

The world-famous Birkenhead-based company said it had undertaken more than 180 marine contracts for commercial clients and the Ministry of Defence between January and June of this year.

The contracts meant more than 800 workers were employed directly, including more than 80 apprentices, and a further 700 subcontractors.

In total Cammell Laird introduced 200 additional workers over its core number to support the business in this period.

In a half-yearly statement Laird said bidding for work in building the UK's next generation of nuclear power plants remains a key target.

The shipbuilder has joined forces with Italian company Ansaldo Nucleare and Warrington-based Nuvia to bid for UK power plant construction.

The partners propose building modules and components for the plants in a weather-protected construction hall in Birkenhead.

Laird has restated its “driving ambition” to grow across all its sectors of marine, renewables and civil nuclear in the second half of 2012 following a strong first six months of trading..

Chief executive John Syvret said the contracts undertaken so far this year demonstrate Laird is one of Europe’s leading shipyards for commercial and MoD ship refit, repair and construction work.

“We have worked hard to build a formidable workforce with extensive experience and expertise for shipyard and engineering work,” he said.

“That workforce enables us to undertake complex and demanding projects - as these contracts demonstrate.

“The second half of 2012 will see the business continue to perform robustly with a steady flow of marine and engineering work.

“This includes undertaking a ship conversion for the Orkney Islands Council ferry the MV Hoy Head and we have agreed a contract to build two new vessels for Western Ferries.

“We are further actively looking to win new business and are keen to welcome potential customers to our site in Birkenhead to see our world-class facilities and meet our management team and workforce.”

Mr Syvret said a prime objective for 2012 and beyond is to grow the business’ work in the off shore renewables and civil nuclear sectors.

“We have made progress this year in preparing the yard’s infrastructure to support our contract with RWE to service the construction of the Gwynt y Mor off shore windfarm,” he said.

“This is our first significant contract in the off shore wind industry which holds considerable potential for us given our skill set, facilities and geographical position.

“The civil nuclear sector is also massive for us and we believe our partnership with Nuvia and Ansaldo Nucleare thrusts us right to the forefront of the multi billion pound new build programme.”