'Shipbuilding jobs to build aircraft carriers'
07/07/2008(11:53)
The UK's shipbuilding industry is set to benefit from the creation and securing of over 2,000 jobs.
It follows the announcement that the UK's biggest ever aircraft carriers are set to be built in shipyards in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness and Newcastle upon Tyne.
The BBC reports that shipbuilders VT, BAE Systems and A&P are set to benefit from the £3.2 billion deal to build the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, which are due in service in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Around 700 jobs are set to be created at BAE in Barrow, with 270 jobs ensured in Newcastle's A&P yard.
John Hutton, business secretary and MP for Barrow, told the BBC: "This contract signals the confidence the government and the Ministry of Defence have in the Barrow yard and other yards involved in the programme."
In other news, a new report by HSBC bank claims that shipbuilders' earnings should "advance rapidly" over the next two years.
Lloyd's List reports that the industry growth on orders in 2007 to date is 39 per cent higher than at the same stage last year.
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