30 July 2026

Navantia UK launches recruitment drive for skilled shipbuilding roles at Harland & Wolff

Navantia UK has launched a recruitment drive for 28 skilled roles at its Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast as it continues to expand the workforce delivering major naval shipbuilding programmes. 

The company is recruiting 21 welders, five platers and two pipefitters to support the delivery of three new Fleet Solid Support ships for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. 

The recruitment campaign forms part of Navantia UK’s long-term plans for Belfast, where over £98.5 million is being invested in modern facilities, advanced manufacturing technology and new equipment. 

This includes a new mechanised panel line, robotic cutting equipment and an expanded fabrication hall, helping to transform Harland & Wolff into one of Europe’s leading centres for advanced shipbuilding. 

Belfast is the principal delivery yard for the Fleet Solid Support programme. The three 39,000-tonne ships will be the largest vessels delivered from the shipyard in a generation and will provide essential support to Royal Navy operations around the world. 

Navantia UK is also planning for continued growth beyond 2027, creating a sustainable pipeline of work and rebuilding the skills and industrial capacity needed to deliver future UK and allied shipbuilding programmes. 

As part of these plans, Navantia UK is targeting the growth of its Belfast workforce to 1,500 people. The company is investing significantly in both experienced tradespeople and the next generation of shipbuilding talent. 

A further 66 apprentices will join the Belfast shipyard in September, taking the total number of apprentices in training at the site to more than 120. They will begin careers across a range of disciplines and work alongside experienced colleagues on major live shipbuilding programmes. 

Carlos Lopez Carregado, General Manager at Harland & Wolff, said: 

“The Fleet Solid Support programme is bringing major shipbuilding back to Belfast and creating an opportunity for local tradespeople to help deliver vessels of genuine national importance. 

“The ships will be the largest delivered from this yard in a generation, supported by £98.5 million of investment in modern facilities, equipment and technology. 

“But our ambitions extend well beyond the current programme. We are building a shipyard, workforce and skills base capable of securing and delivering work beyond 2027, with plans to grow the Belfast workforce to 1,500 people. 

“We want skilled welders, platers and pipefitters to join the team that will turn this investment into ships and help establish Belfast as one of Europe’s leading centres for advanced shipbuilding.” 

Katherine Thorn, Head of Talent and Culture at Navantia UK, said: 

“This is an exciting time to join Navantia UK. We are creating skilled, long-term careers for experienced tradespeople while investing in the next generation of Belfast’s shipbuilding workforce. 

“The 66 apprentices joining us in September will take our apprentice population in Belfast to more than 120, demonstrating the scale of our commitment to developing local talent. 

“Together with our current recruitment campaign and plans to grow the workforce to 1,500 people, this will ensure that Belfast has the skills and capability needed to deliver major shipbuilding programmes for many years to come.”