BAE Systems - Experts & Thought Leaders

Construction has begun on a new Applied Shipbuilding Academy at BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow. The Academy will comprise of a Modern Trade Hall and a Flexible Learning Hub. The Academy will support the development of the entire workforce, from apprentices to senior leaders, and forms part of the Company’s ongoing commitment to develop future talent. New Applied Shipbuilding Academy in Glasgow A historic industrial building will be retrofitted to become the Modern Trade Hall It will accelerate the modernisation of Glasgow’s historic shipbuilding industry, up-skilling the existing workforce whilst attracting new talent to secure its future for generations to come. A historic industrial building will be retrofitted to become the Modern Trade Hall, with areas dedicated to each shipbuilding trade, ship-realistic mock up environments and research & technology facilities. Immediately adjacent will be a Flexible Learning Hub, containing more than 30 classrooms, a STEM innovation lab and office facilities. The Shipbuilding Academy will offer bespoke training On completion in the second half of 2024, the Shipbuilding Academy will provide bespoke training for almost 4,500 employees, including nearly 700 apprentices. These new facilities will also enable a substantial expansion of the successful early careers programmes at BAE Systems, doubling the intake in Glasgow to more than 200 new apprentices each year.

Firms developing three Fleet Solid Support ships for Royal Fleet Auxiliary have been urged to say how many British jobs will be created – and how much work carried out in the UK The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions has demanded to see plans outlining how UK workers and firms will benefit from the deal. The CSEU’s maritime chairman Matthew Roberts, a GMB union national officer, has written to Harland & Wolff, ship designers BMT and Madrid-based Navantia, S.A., S.M.E calling for answers. Domestic supply chains He has asked for copies of the ‘UK Content Plan for Fleet Solid Support’ and ‘your Social Value and Training Plan’. In the letter, seen exclusively by the Mirror, he says: “As you will appreciate, our members have been told that these documents set out the Team Resolute commitments to investment in the UK workforce and domestic supply chains, and – on that basis – sight of the plans is essential if confidence is to be built in the project across the wider workforce.” Delivering successful programme The trio of 709ft, 40,000-tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels will resupply Royal Navy aircraft carriers “We believe it is crucial that these plans are visible, understood and trusted by all stakeholders, including the workforce we represent. Engagement with the workforce and representatives will be vital to delivering a successful programme.” The trio of 709ft, 40,000-tonne Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels will resupply Royal Navy aircraft carriers, frigates and destroyers with food, ammunition and explosives. When it announced the contract in November 2022, the Government claimed 1,200 jobs will be created in the UK. But at least 40% of the value of the work – worth about £640million – will go overseas, with some of the building taking place in Cadiz. Social value and training plan Hundreds of jobs in Spain are expected to be created or safeguarded – posts which unions believe could have come to Britain if a rival bid from Team UK, including BAE Systems and Babcock International Group, had won. Mr Roberts told the Mirror: “Team Resolute must now publish their UK Content Plan and Social Value and Training Plan so they can be held to account on them. Firstly, UK workers need to see that the level of UK work on FSS is significant, as we have always been promised it would be when we learnt the work would not exclusively be within the UK. Secondly, we need to ensure there is no backsliding of work from the UK to foreign yards; work that is allocated and promised to UK yards such as Belfast and Appledore must be completed in these yards.”

Babcock teamed with BAE Systems and RBSL to develop the ARCHER wheeled mobile artillery system for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) as the replacement for the British Army’s legacy AS90. From Babcock production facilities in Devonport and Walsall, it will use significant vehicle manufacturing and maintenance capabilities to consolidate the Archer superstructure and ammunition resupply system. System integration Chris Spicer, Managing Director of Engineering & Systems Integration at Babcock said, “In line with the MOD’s Land Industrial Strategy, Babcock is pleased to be working with BAE Systems to bring to the UK and the British Army this market-pioneering capability." "Our skilled teams and facilities in the South-West and West Midlands will deliver important elements of the engineering expertise, system integration, and innovative technology required for system assembly that will enable the Archer Artillery Alliance to provide the British Army with this exciting capability.” ARCHER ARCHER is a fully automated artillery system, purpose-built to keep pace with fast-moving land forces. It is designed for rapid deployment to quickly respond to threats and deliver superior mobility, lethality, and survivability. This strategic relationship between BAE Systems, Babcock, and RBSL brings together some of the largest and most experienced British defence companies to deliver the UK’s most critical artillery programme in a generation.