Local businesses commit to Naval Group apprentices

Several local companies have reassured Naval Group apprentices that their jobs are safe following the dumping of the $90bn submarines program.

Local engineering companies have reassured Naval Group apprentices that their jobs are safe following the dumping of the $90bn future submarines program.

More than 20 apprentices had been placed with host companies as part of Naval Group’s apprentice program, with the promise of on-the-job training and pathways to a career building submarines at the Osborne shipyard.

The French company partnered with several local small and medium size businesses to deliver the training, and footed a significant portion of the apprentices’ wages.

Smithfield-based engineering and structural steel company Gant & Sons is currently training four boilermaker apprentices, and the family-owned business has already assured them their jobs are safe.

Apprentice boilermaker Anika Ford at the Gant & Sons facility in Edinburgh. Picture: Tom Huntley

“We’ve made the decision as a business to take them on ourselves,” Gant & Sons operations manager Drew Koch said.

“Our industry’s quite busy at the moment so we’ve got enough work to keep them on and we need their skills - they add significant value to our business.

“We see it as a bit of pause in terms of Naval Group’s no longer a part of it, but the new company, whoever that may be, will still need these sets of skills that we’re developing.”

Port Adelaide piping and steel fabrication business Smart Fabrication is another local company that’s made a commitment to keep its five Naval Group apprentices.

Managing director Simon Kennedy said the company had enough work on outside of the defence industry to sustain its current workforce.

“If Naval Group pulls out of financing these apprentices I will take them on personally - they’re good kids, they’ve been given an opportunity and I certainly wouldn’t let this destroy their career chances at this stage,” he said.

“Their jobs would be safe with us. We’ve got more work on our books than we’ve had for years and more opportunities than we’ve had for years, and that’s not all in defence either.”

Anika Ford, 17, who’s currently undertaking a school-based apprenticeship with Gant & Sons, said it was a huge relief to have the company support her.

“They reassured me that I would be OK and that’s helped a lot,” she said.

“I’d still love the chance to work on the submarines - I’m super excited by the opportunity to do that.”