Harland & Wolff Welcomes 13 New Apprentices

Belfast's iconic Harland & Wolff shipyard has welcomed 13 new apprentices as part of a new partnership with Northern Regional College.

The new apprentices, aged between 17 and 28, were welcomed to the shipyard as part of its first 'Apprentice Induction Day', giving the new recruits an opportunity to tour the site and learn more about the company's heritage and significance within national and international maritime sectors.

Steven Wright, General Manager at Harland & Wolff (Belfast), who started his career as a Harland & Wolff Apprentice said: "We are extremely excited to be welcoming our first intake of apprentices to Belfast and to the Harland & Wolff Group. This is a great opportunity to pass on the vast skills, knowledge, and expertise of our current employees to the next generation of marine engineers and shipbuilders. As work ramps up throughout the yard and with significant investment towards on-site innovation, it is an incredibly exciting time to join the business. Infamously known as the birthplace of British shipbuilding and maritime excellence, our apprentices will not only gain valuable first-hand industry experience but will be able to continue our proud legacy – all whilst doing so with the backdrop of Samson and Goliath, our iconic gantry cranes."

Harland & Wolff Apprenticeships are offered across three distinct functions, Trade, (welders, pipefitters, electricians, riggers, fabricators, etc) Technical, (engineers, naval architecture) and Business Support (sales, administration).

Highlights of the training programme include practical on-the-job training, one to one mentoring alongside its experienced workforce, shipyard training facilities and the opportunity to earn while you learn.

Harland & Wolff's Belfast yard is one of Europe's largest heavy engineering facilities, with deep water access, two of Europe's largest drydocks, ample quayside and vast fabrication halls. As a result of the acquisition of Harland & Wolff (Appledore) in August 2020, the company has been able to capitalise on opportunities at both ends of the ship-repair and shipbuilding markets.

In February 2021, the company acquired the assets of two Scottish based yards along the east and west coasts. Now known as Harland & Wolff (Methil) and Harland & Wolff (Arnish), these facilities will focus on fabrication work within the renewable, oil and gas and defence sectors.