SHIPBUILDERS are as tough and macho as a west of Scotland man comes.
Rightly or wrongly, they are not usually seen as the most metrosexual of workers. But in a sign of just how much Clydeside has changed, unions and management have agreed to introduce creches and gyms in yards.
The new facilities are part of a wider transformation of warship production in Glasgow outlined by BAE Systems this week.
As The Herald reported yesterday, the defence giant aims to build a £200million indoor high-tech "frigate factory" in Scotstoun and, if it can, phase out its historic Govan yard.
But the business insists it has embarked on a wider culture change that caters for the well-being of its workers.
No longer, the theory goes, will shipbuilders be sweating outdoors. Instead, they will be as isolated from the elements and heavy-lifting as the officers who will eventually stand on the bridge of the ships they will build.
And because of that reduction in workload, they are going to need gyms to keep in trim.
Unions are delighted. John Dolan, of the GMB, said: "They are taking about gyms and creches for young babies. It would be a tremendous opportunity for young families."
Mr Dolan is an enthusiast for the proposed Scotstoun facility, which will not get the final go-ahead until a decision is made on the next round of warship orders later this year - despite admitting he believes tears will be shed for Govan if it closes as a result.
On Scotstoun, he said: "It would be much safer. Over the last five years safety has improved by management and employees working together. But an indoor facility would be modern and clean and safe."
The two yards currentlty employ about 3000 workers. There are now dozens of women working in the yards, while more men than ever before are taking care of their health - and their children.
Charlie Blakemore, business and transformation director of BAE Systems, stressed changes to gyms and creches did not necessarily depend on the new facility at Scotstoun being built. The company is actively looking at health and well-being centres in its existing facilities.
BAE Systems is preparing to cut jobs as it ends its current orders as part of an alliance building two giant aircraft carriers for the Royal Navy, with 835 people in Scotland expected to leave the business.
But improvements are under way for those who remain, including a revamp of its offices in South Street, Scotstoun, where engineers and designers are working on plans for the next generation of Type 26 frigates.
BAE Systems believes it has to offer the kind of facilities that will keep workers, including women, with highly transferrable skills.
Mr Blakemore said: "We want to build a 21st century capacity that will retain and attract the most talented people to our industry."
BAE has a Plan B for the Clyde that would see the old Govan yard retained and ships built, as now, across both yards, with parts moved by barge between them. But even bigger sheds at Govan would be too small to build the proposed Type 26s indoors. The new ships will be more than 133 metres (440ft) in length.
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