One of Scotland’s major naval shipyards has recruited hundreds of welders from the Philippines to plug significant gaps in skilled work.
At least 300 Filipino welders have been recruited at the Babcock-owned yard in Rosyth, Fife.
The shipyard is widely tipped to secure a £1 billion contract for four frigates for the Danish Navy.
It is also one of the final bidders for a Swedish navy contract for up to seven Type 31 ships – with construction of the Royal Navy’s frigates of the same kind already underway at the shipyard.
But a senior UK Government insider told Scottish journalists that the defence manufacturing giants were struggling to recruit workers from Scotland, with the lack of skilled courses in colleges cited as a key concern.
The Scottish Government also came under fire, with its opposition to new nuclear contracts described as a put-off for the industry.
Read More:
- 'Win for Putin': Swinney independence plan on nuclear weapons is 'attack' on security
- Teen who died in agony faced five-hour ambulance wait after cancer referral downgrade
- UK Government will take SNP majority 'seriously' despite Swinney's independence plan
The insider said Scotland had “significant” potential to invest in technological innovation, including small modular reactors (SMRs).
But speaking to Scottish journalists in London, the senior source said: “There is the potential for new build nuclear but essentially if you talk to the civil nuclear companies, they say Scotland is off limits because of the approach that has been taken by the SNP Government in recent years.
“We are forgoing opportunities in relation to civil nuclear power in Scotland each and every time that the SNP maintain their unscientific, dogmatic opposition to civil nuclear power.”
The SNP-led Scottish Government will refuse planning permission for any new nuclear reactors to be built in Scotland, instead shifting a focus to renewable energy.
The UK Government has now confirmed it is looking at ways around this policy position – but control over planning laws are devolved to the Scottish Government, giving ministers an effective veto.
The government insider then told journalists companies operating in Scotland – including Babcock – had raised concerns about the lack of workers being trained in Scotland.
“At exactly the point at which we should be training the next generation of apprentices in Scotland, we’re seeing real-terms cuts in further education colleges expenditure in Scotland,” the source said.
“If you take the companies, according to the companies themselves, they had 300 Filipino welders working in Rosyth because they had not been able to source those welders in Scotland.
“We are determined to avoid that scenario in relation to the frigate building on the Clyde, but that’s why we need a welding centre and yet the Scottish Government has refused to back it given its historic position in relation to armaments.”
“We need Scottish colleges to recognise the opportunities of the defence industries and if you look at what courses are being prefaced at colleges at the moment, we’re not seeing the electricians, the engineers, the mechanics, the plumbers, and many of the trades and crafts that the defence primes are now looking for,” they added.
A Babcock spokeswoman said: “While most roles are filled locally, the specialist nature and availability of the skills required to support our build programme means we may need short-term international recruitment to meet delivery timelines.
“This ensures progress on vital defence programmes while we continue to strengthen Scotland’s skilled workforce.”
Scotland has just one nuclear power plant left in the country – at Torness in East Lothian – but it is being decommissioned in 2030.
Read More:
- 'Totally inappropriate': HES chair told to sack director at centre of racism row
- 'Fear and misery' in North East Scotland — as monster pylon scheme creeps closer
- Rents in Scotland 'breach £1,000 a month' for first time
But UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said nuclear bosses would be invited to Scotland immediately under a Labour administration at Holyrood, with Torness tipped as a potential site.
A recent report from the UK Government claimed green energy could provide up to 40,000 jobs across the country, but that figure could “grow massively” if nuclear power was allowed in Scotland.
Mr Miliband said: “We are saying, led by Anas, yes to new nuclear in Scotland, and I want to partner with the leadership he is showing to deliver and we are determined to do so if Scotland elects a Labour government.
“I think we can do even more in Scotland, and I think we can do even more through new nuclear.
“The truth is Scotland has got a proud nuclear history, but it is being held back by the SNP’s anti-growth, anti-jobs ban on new nuclear.”
SNP MSP Paul McLennan said the Energy Secretary’s remarks showed the UK Government’s “contempt” for Scotland by attempting to “bypass” Scottish ministers.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We are delivering a transformation programme to reform the post-school education and skills system. Alongside this reform, we’re taking targeted action to meet urgent skills needs in sectors like offshore wind, social care, engineering, and advanced manufacturing. The latest data from the Scottish Funding Council shows there are currently more than 14,000 full-time equivalent college students on engineering courses.
“Recognising the vital role Scotland’s colleges have in education and the country’s economy, the Scottish Funding Council is providing a 2.6% increase in teaching funding for 2025-26. We are also investing in infrastructure: Fife College will be moving into the brand new Dunfermline Learning Campus shortly, which the Scottish Government is supporting with up to £154.5 million capital investment.
“Scotland’s defence sector is a strategic driver of Scotland’s future workforce, supporting high-quality jobs and playing a vital role in driving economic growth across our nation.”
Share