Secretary of State for Scotland visits Navantia UK’s Methil yard

The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP tours Fife facility as Navantia UK celebrates first anniversary of acquisition, announces further investment, new contract win and recruitment of 50 new roles and 20 apprentices.

The Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, today visited Navantia UK’s Methil yard in Fife to mark the first anniversary of the company’s acquisition of Harland & Wolff’s four UK facilities. The visit comes as Navantia UK announces further investment into the Methil site, a new contract win, and continued workforce growth – with the yard’s team having grown from 180 to 250 people in the past year, recruitment commencing for a further 250 roles to support the new contract, and 20 new apprentices to be taken on at the site.

During the visit, the Secretary of State met the workforce, apprentices and Navantia UK’s management team to discuss the yard’s progress over the past twelve months and how Methil and the wider Navantia UK business can support the Government’s defence and industrial ambitions going forward. Mr Alexander was also able to view first-hand the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) transport barge under construction for the Ministry of Defence, which is now over 60% complete.

One year ago, Navantia UK completed its acquisition of Harland & Wolff’s facilities in Belfast, Appledore, Methil and Arnish in a deal backed by the UK Government, protecting more than 1,000 skilled jobs and securing the future of the Fleet Solid Support programme for the Royal Navy. Since then, Navantia UK has committed £115 million to modernising its yards and building industrial resilience, supporting the acquisition and installation of state-of-the-art equipment including lifting cranes, robotic plasma cutting systems and automated quality control processes.

Methil has been at the heart of this transformation. The yard is now operational and delivering projects, including the FSS barge – an £8 million strategic investment by Navantia UK to transport ship blocks between Appledore and Belfast as part of the nationally important Fleet Solid Support programme. Methil has also secured a major vessel build export contract, underlining the yard’s growing reputation and competitiveness. Today’s announcement of further Navantia UK investment into Methil demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to the yard and to building sovereign industrial capability in Scotland.

Navantia UK today announced a planned additional £10m+ investment into the Methil site, focused on a dedicated skills centre, modern machinery, infrastructure improvements and new technology to ensure the yard can deliver future defence contracts for the Ministry of Defence. This is on top of the investment already approved since the acquisition, which has included roof repairs, refurbished cranes, a new cutting machine, a steel plate storage facility, and a self-propelled modular transporter. With modern facilities and a growing, experienced workforce, Methil is well positioned to support future defence programmes as the Government looks to strengthen sovereign industrial capability.

The visit and announcements are closely aligned with the UK Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy 2025, which positions defence as an engine for economic growth and commits to backing British businesses, creating skilled jobs and driving innovation across every nation and region of the UK. The strategy, supported by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, sets out the Government’s ambition to develop a resilient UK industrial base and strengthen sovereign capability. Navantia UK’s investment in Methil is delivering precisely against these objectives – building industrial capacity, developing skilled people and sustaining long-term investment in Scottish coastal communities.

The Fleet Solid Support programme continues to progress well across Navantia UK’s network. Steel was cut for the first ship, RFA Resurgent, at Appledore in December 2025 in the presence of Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard MP. Construction of modules has also begun at Navantia’s shipyard in Puerto Real, Cádiz. All blocks will come together at Harland & Wolff in Belfast for final assembly, integration and commissioning. Each FSS ship will be 216 metres long with a displacement of 39,000 tonnes, making them the second largest ships in service with UK Defence, second only to the aircraft carriers.

Across all four of its UK sites, Navantia UK now employs over 1,100 people in highly skilled, high-value jobs, including 222 apprentices – some 20% of its workforce. The company aims to employ around 2,000 people by 2030 and has committed to recruiting a further 500 apprentices over that period as part of its contribution to developing sovereign skills capability.

The Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, said:

“One year ago, this Government acted decisively to secure the future of this yard and protect skilled jobs in Fife. Today, I have seen first-hand the results of that commitment – a workforce that has grown from 180 to 250, a yard that is delivering for our Armed Forces, and further recruitment and apprenticeships on the way. The progress at Methil is a powerful example of what can be achieved when government and industry work together. Scotland’s defence sector is second to none, and our Defence Industrial Strategy is ensuring it has a thriving future, delivering the defence dividend in skilled jobs and economic growth in communities like this one right across Scotland.”

Donato Martínez, Chief Executive Officer of Navantia UK, said:

“As we enter 2026, the case for strengthening the UK’s sovereign industrial capability has never been clearer. Russia’s war in Ukraine, shifting geopolitics, rising competition in the Indo-Pacific and renewed focus on the High North are reshaping the global security environment. These challenges require industrial capacity, skilled people and sustained investment – exactly what Navantia UK is building. Our additional investment of up to £15 million into this site will ensure that Methil has the skills, the technology and the infrastructure to deliver future defence contracts for the MoD. We are proud to welcome the Secretary of State today and to demonstrate our commitment to building the resilient, world-class industrial capability the UK needs.”