Construction of Two Type 31 Frigates in Parallel

Babcock has announced completion of the Venturer Building, its new assembly hall in Rosyth.

At 147m x 62m x 42m, the fully covered building will be used for assembly of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates, capable of housing two frigates for uninterrupted, parallel assembly and supporting increased productivity gains through improved access to platforms and digital connectivity.

An initial recruitment drive to support the programme will include a variety of trades, including welders, fabricators and mechanical and electrical fitters, as well as production support operatives. Some 500 new roles will contribute towards the direct workforce, which will peak at the height of the programme at around 1,250 people across the UK, supporting a similar number in the extended supply chain. Further opportunities will include operations production management, quality and planning.

At the traditional ‘topping out’ ceremony, Will Erith, Chief Executive of Babcock Marine, said the building delivers “[…] a very real step change in capacity and capability for modern UK shipbuilding […] From the start of this programme, we’ve been focussing on prosperity, supporting both the UK and local economies and so it is great we are also announcing 500 new roles on the same day, who will directly support the Type 31 programme.”