Recruitment push for shipbuilders

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A three-year campaign has been launched to recruit more than 1,000 people into the shipbuilding industry in Scotland.

Business development agency Scottish Enterprise said recruits were needed to complete a £4bn contract to build two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

The £525,000 marketing campaign aims to boost the existing workforce and to replace those retiring from it.

It will also use radio adverts, a new website, social networking sites and career packs to 32,000 Glasgow pupils.

According to government figures, the UK shipbuilding industry in 2006 employed 23,500 people, 5,400 of whom were in Scotland.

Last July the government signed contracts for two new aircraft carriers - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.

The work is expected to create or underpin a total of 10,000 jobs at yards in Appledore in north Devon, Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness, Glasgow and Rosyth.

Scotland will not simply sit back and wait for things to get better, and this is a key example of innovative marketing to broaden our businesses Jim MatherEnterprise Minister Ian McMahon, of Scottish Enterprise, said it was vital Scotland had the skills in place to meet the future demands of the industry.

"The shipbuilding industry is a growing and vibrant business, which is welcome news in what is currently a climate of economic uncertainty," he said.

"However, we need to ensure that we retain the vital skills that make Scotland the leading centre for high-technology warship construction and repair.

"With the future aircraft carrier project on the immediate horizon and more ships in the pipeline, ship building yards are gearing up for the future.

"There has never been a better time to launch a campaign to recruit and train engineers to meet the demands that this will bring."

The marketing campaign, called "The future is ship-shape", aims to target school leavers, adult apprentices, university graduates and skilled workers in other sectors.

Careers as welders are being offer in the shipbuilding industryCareers on offer include apprentice engineers, designers, welders, pipefitters, electricians, riggers, crane operators, naval architects, project managers, accountants, and administrators.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather said the campaign would add to the country's expertise in shipbuilding.

"Scotland is a significant player in the shipbuilding and marine industry and this campaign will drive the development of a new skilled workforce capable of serving the future needs of the industry," he said.

"Along with the extended contracts that we have seen with the Royal Navy aircraft carriers, this campaign will build on the current quality and expertise that the Scottish shipyards hold.

"Scotland will not simply sit back and wait for things to get better, and this is a key example of innovative marketing to broaden our businesses, grow our industries and most importantly, create more jobs."

The marketing campaign is funded by Scottish Enterprise, and has support from Skills Development Scotland and shipbuilding firms BVT Surface Fleet and Babcock Marine.