Wirral Council leader Steve Foulkes urges company to keep workers local in £180m ship contract

Jul 2 2008 by Matt Hurst, Wallasey News

NORTHWESTERN Shipbuilders and Repairers will enjoy their most successful year since business collapsed in 2001, predicts managing director John Syvret.

His optimism comes in the wake of the firm’s acquisition of a five year, £180m Ministry of Defence (MoD) contract.

John Syvret said on Monday: “Ship repair, conversion and military refit is making a comeback on the Mersey.

“It is absolutely magnificent to win a contract of this magnitude, prestige and size.”

The deal means Northwestern will now maintain a dozen Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels, used by the Navy to carry supplies around the world.

The firm, which aims to relaunch as Cammell Laird again later this year, hopes to have the contract extended over the 30-year life of the ships, making the deal worth a possible £1bn.

But Labour and Wirral Council leader, Cllr Steve Foulkes has urged the company to spread the wealth by sourcing workers locally.

He is concerned the job creation should benefit Wirral-based workers and said he hoped those who left the industry in leaner days could rely on management to deliver job security.

Cllr Foulkes said: “It’s fantastic news, but I would like to see those jobs filled by local people.

“They shouldn’t be advertising in places like Poland.”

Although the firm has been doing work on a casual basis for government, this new contract will see that arrangement steadied and income guaranteed - a huge fillip following the collapse of business in 2001.

Managing director John Syvret paid tribute to his workforce: “It is testament to the quality of craftsmanship and the huge amount of effort this shipyard, and all our staff, have put in to their work for the Royal Navy over the last few years.

“This is now our most successful year since launching Northwestern in 2001.

“We can look forward to the future from a position of considerable strength as we look to rename ourselves back to Cammell Laird - a move we hope will catapult us forward into the international ship repair, conversion and refit industry.”

Birkenhead MP Frank Field, who lobbied hard for the deal, said Northwestern saw off competition from six other yards to secure the work.

Prior to this contract, the largest MoD deal, signed in January 2007, was worth £28m.