Social Value
Supporting Our Communities
Balaena is built on the heritage of shipyards that have stood at the heart of their communities for generations.
Across the Tyne, Falmouth, Birkenhead, Gibraltar and Padstow, our facilities provide vital employment, skills development and economic value supporting regional growth and strengthening the UK maritime sector.
Jobs, Skills and Local Opportunity
Balaena provides a wide range of career opportunities across engineering, ship repair, fabrication, coatings, procurement, project management and support services. We are committed to recruiting locally wherever possible, then nationally, so the communities around our yards benefit directly from our growth.
Our apprenticeship programmes, originally developed at A&P Group and Cammell Laird and now unified under Balaena, have trained hundreds of apprentices in welding, fabrication, engineering, safety, finance and specialist maritime trades. Many go on to supervisory, technical and leadership roles. At Falmouth, around 70% of managers, supervisors and technical staff began as apprentices, while at Birkenhead, half of the operational board, all production supervisors and three-quarters of project managers came through the same route. This culture of progression ensures a strong, highly skilled workforce for the future.
Skills for the Future
Balaena is committed to the long-term development of the maritime workforce. Our apprenticeship programmes, established in 1997 (Birkenhead) and 2008 (A&P) have industry-leading completion rates and are expanding to meet growing demand.
Our investment in skills includes:
+ World-class training facilities and structured career pathways.
+ Engagement with schools and colleges to promote STEM and maritime careers.
+ Active support for women and mature learners entering engineering.
+ Mentorship and workplace training to accelerate progression.
By combining the strengths of our legacy programmes, Balaena is creating one of the UK’s most effective maritime training pipelines.
Economic Value and Local Supply Chains
Across the UK, Balaena delivers substantial value through local spending and supply-chain support.
+ Tyne has invested more than £75m into its supply chain in the past five years—around 40% in the North East.
+ Falmouth has spent £200m, with 25% supporting South West businesses.
+ Birkenhead has invested £400m into suppliers over the same period, with £130m directed to more than 300 Merseyside companies.
+ Gibraltar has spent up to £40m in the local supply chain.
We prioritise local subcontractors, expect strong apprenticeship ratios across our supply chain, and focus on long-term partnerships that strengthen regional industry.
Innovation and Sustainable Growth
Balaena continues to invest in modern, resilient and low-carbon infrastructure. A key example is the Green Shore Power Project in Birkenhead, a £7 million initiative supported by UK Government CMDC4 funding, which will deliver the UK’s first zero-carbon onshore power system for vessels under construction or refit. Projects like this help ensure our yards remain competitive, sustainable and ready for the future.
Supporting Local Charities and Community Programmes
Across the group, Balaena is committed to social responsibility and local impact.
Our shipyards support numerous charities, including:
+ Royal Naval Benevolent Trust
+ Children’s Cancer North
+ Hebburn Food Bank
+ The Mission to Seafarers
+ CLIC Sargent
+ Hospice South West
In Birkenhead, with child poverty among the highest in the UK, our longstanding commitment includes more than £110,000 raised for local causes.
Through the Hive Heroes initiative, Balaena continues to fund essential meals and youth programmes, supporting thousands of children who rely on these services.
A Group Committed to its Communities
Balaena’s strength comes from the places we call home.
Our people, our suppliers, our apprentices and our neighbours shape everything we do.
By investing in local jobs, skills, supply chains, innovation and social impact across all our yards, Balaena is helping build stronger, more resilient communities - while securing the future of British shipbuilding and maritime engineering.