Overview
- Applications are set to open for 90 apprenticeship places in 2026 across four yards, with around 35 in Belfast, 20 in Appledore, 20 in Methil and 15 in Arnish.
- Navantia UK plans to recruit 500 apprentices by 2030 following its acquisition of Harland & Wolff’s assets, expanding its shipbuilding and engineering footprint.
- Roles include welding, pipe fitting, computer-aided design and administration, with Level 2 and Level 3 pathways led by qualified instructors.
- Yard upgrades total £115 million, adding robotic plasma cutting, new cranes, facility refurbishments and automated quality control, with first FSS steel cut at Appledore in December and an £8 million Methil-built barge under way.
- National Apprenticeship Week also saw Centrica announce 500 apprentices for 2026 and a £35 million Net Zero Training Academy opening in May, HS2 list 30+ vacancies after surpassing 2,000 apprentices, and the Government outline reforms to speed up training.