Naval Group recruits apprentices for submarine construction

Naval Group Australia has today begun its largest apprenticeship intake to date with applications open for apprentice fabricators who will eventually work on construction of 12 Attack class submarines at Osborne in Adelaide.

The French-owned group is looking for at least 13 new apprentices to begin work in early 2021 and follows the successful placement of eight apprentices in local South Australian businesses in 2020 (main picture).

Submarine construction will be among the most complex and sophisticated undertakings ever attempted in Australia.

Naval Group Australia Shipyard Operations Manager, Rory Johnstone said: “As part of this exciting program, it is critical we have local talent skilled up and ready to play their part in delivering these submarines that will be so important to our country for generations.

“These apprentices get the opportunity to learn new skills with our industrial partners in South Australian businesses alongside experienced welders and boilermakers in preparation to work on the Future Submarine Programme.

“Our first two apprenticeship intakes received a lot of interest and I expect this will be no different with this latest round opening today.”

The apprentices will initially be placed with a network of SA companies, including Samaras Group, a multidisciplinary heavy engineering and construction company and Smart Fabrication, a manufacturing and engineering fabrication company.

Managing Director of Smart Fabrication Simon Kennedy said that apprentices got to learn new skills and were making a strong contribution to local businesses.

Kennedy said: “The apprentices get to work with and learn from some of the best welders and fabricators in South Australia that we have here at SmartFab.”

Once the apprentice has completed probation, they receive a letter of intent that will allow them to be one of the first tradies to work on the submarine programme.

To apply or find out more about how your business could be involved go to naval-group.com.au

Picture: Naval Group/The first three submarine apprentices: (L-R) Dylan Raggatt, Renee McDonald and Luke Thompson

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