From Cleaner to Warship Builder: A Career Transition at Rosyth Shipyard

Donna Dryburgh, who previously worked as a cleaner at the Rosyth, Fife shipyard until two years ago, did not anticipate a career in warship construction. Although she enjoyed her cleaning role, she sought a new challenge. Her opportunity arose when she noticed a job advertisement from the defense company Babcock. The firm was recruiting for Production Support Operatives (PSOs), a newly established position within their shipbuilding operations. Ms. Dryburgh applied for the position, was hired, and quickly adapted to her new responsibilities. She stated, “I’ve now had a lot of training,” adding, “The welding was the best part of it for me.” She expressed surprise at her own capabilities, remarking, “I never thought I’d ever be able to weld in my life, but it’s been fantastic and I’m quite surprised at myself.” She described the experience of observing the ships’ construction as “a really exciting journey for me.” Ms. Dryburgh noted that entering the industry might seem “daunting” for women. She commented, “People look at it as a man’s job, but of course women can do that job,” and observed, “So we’re getting more women coming through.” Currently, she holds a specialized position, responsible for fitting respiratory masks for welders. This task is vital to the shipyard’s safety protocols as it constructs warships for the Royal Navy. Ms. Dryburgh explained, “Everybody who comes on site gets fitted with respiratory protection to go out and do their job safely, so it’s an important job to get a seal on somebody’s face,” and added, “You have all sorts of different shapes and sizes coming in here.” Babcock, like numerous other employers, is contending with significant competition for personnel. Data from the Scottish government indicated that in October, a quarter of companies reported staff shortages. The combined effects of the pandemic and Brexit have resulted in many employers lacking the necessary skilled workforce. In response, Babcock has adopted unconventional recruitment strategies. With more than 2,000 individuals employed on site, the company has recently hired 200 workers for PSO positions. These new hires begin in support capacities and progress to higher roles following training and gaining experience. Paul Watson, managing director of the Type 31 programme, which is focused on delivering Royal Navy warships, informed BBC Scotland News that “The pandemic was one of the biggest challenges at the start of the programme.” He elaborated that “It just wasn’t possible to bus people from around the country onto the site,” which subsequently “created a bigger opportunity for the local community here.” Mr. Watson stated that the industry has been “fiercely competitive” for the last five years, citing two major shipbuilding initiatives on the west coast and another on the east coast. He further mentioned, “There’s also lots of industrial work going on in Scotland’s renewable sector.” Consequently, he concluded, “So we have to think about how we tackle that capability gap quite differently from what we’ve been doing before.” Regarding the new employees, he explained, “It’s a mix of training – some before they come on site, then there’s the job training – that’s ‘elbow training’ alongside the skilled teams.” He also noted that “Fifty of the PSO’s have gone onto higher skilled work in welding, fabricating and health physics monitoring, so there’s a pathway for them too.” Babcock’s facilities in Rosyth are securely protected, enclosed by a high barbed wire fence. In recent years, the workforce there has undertaken significant assembly projects, including the construction of two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, which are the biggest warships to have served with the Royal Navy. Although these carriers have departed, work persists within the expansive Venturer build hall, a vast blue structure. This hall measures 147m (482ft) in length and 42m (138ft) in height, providing sufficient space to accommodate two of the Navy’s latest warships, Type 31 frigates, simultaneously. These 6,000-tonne vessels are anticipated to soon contribute to the Navy’s air defence and submarine hunting operations. The immense hall is bustling with activity, characterized by loud metallic sounds and showers of sparks generated by welders. Among the workers is Paul Mclelland, whose previous professions included baker and window fitter. Upon reaching 52 years of age, he sought a career change, believing his opportunity might have “slipped by.” This led him to the shipyard, where he retrained and upskilled for a specialist PSO position. In this role, he assists welders with their “local exhaust ventilation” systems, which prevent the inhalation of fumes. Mr. Mclelland informed BBC Scotland News that he has had no regrets since securing the job. He stated, “I enjoy coming into work,” adding, “That’s half the battle when you get out of bed in the morning.” He continued, “You come to work and you know you’re going to enjoy it. So it’s good.” He concluded by saying, “I wish I’d come here earlier.”