Over 200 jobs could go at Birkenhead shipyard Cammell Laird

Jul 21 2012 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Echo

UP TO 230 jobs may be at risk at Birkenhead shipyard and engineering firm Cammell Laird.

The firm, which currently employs more than 700 people, told its workforce yesterday that jobs may go in October when some existing contracts come to an end.

However, bosses insist they were legally obligated to make the announcement and that the job losses were not definite as new contracts may be secured in the coming months.

One of the contracts that is coming towards its end is the construction of the flight decks and other sections of the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

That contract was worth £44m to Cammell Laird.

In a statement, the company said: “Cammell Laird can confirm it has informed the workforce and the authorities that up to 230 jobs are at risk.

“This is a legal obligation we have to meet and we always remain optimistic that further contracts will be secured in the meantime.

“However Cammell Laird is a contracting business and the nature of our industry is that demand can expand and contract throughout the year.

“We have over the last year been extremely busy and some of the larger contracts, such as the aircraft carrier project, are coming to end.”