Hi-Tech Naval Engineer Workshop Opens

A £9 million engineering workshop facility has opened at Portsmouth Naval Base.

The hi-tech facility, known as the Thunderer Workshop, welcomed 100 apprentices through its doors who will continue to train there for four years.

"I like seeing machines I've never seen before," explained apprentice Charlie Priddle.

"I'm eager to get on them and start learning new skills."

The project to create the Thunderer workshop began in 2015 and forms part of the largest investment in workshop facilities at the base for a generation.

The workshop was handed over to the Royal Navy by defence giant BAE Systems and was officially opened by Rear Admiral Richard Thompson, Chief of Naval Engineering.

The facility will help support and maintain the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers. 

The project is expected to save the Ministry of Defence more than £1 million a year, as well as boost apprenticeship opportunities in the region.

Rear Admiral Richard Thompson said: "We are a technology driven service, so it's really important that we can draw people in and give them careers, give them opportunities and show them what the future looks like."

It's also hoped that the facility will also have the capacity to bring in private, civilian work.

Commodore Jim Higham, Naval Base Commander at Portsmouth, said: "Taxpayers' money is very important to us and we want to build the very best Navy we can for the money the Government gives us.

"So all of the commercial opportunities that we can leverage to deliver better value for money are a positive thing, and I believe if it's positive for the Royal Navy, it will be positive for Portsmouth as well."