You probably will have questions. This is a career you're considering after all. The companies who train and employ tomorrow's engineers are used to answering questions.
Carnegie College in Dunfermline/Rosyth and Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy/Glenrothes.
In addition to numerous universities in Scotland and elsewhere which offer degree courses in relevant subjects such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Production Engineering and more, for those wishing to specialise in the marine sector, the Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, a joint department at the Universities of Strathclyde, offers world-leading courses of study in naval architecture, marine engineering and related courses.
You'll need a minimum of 3 Standard Grades at Grade 3 or above including Maths and English and a Science or Technology subject. (If you're intending to apply to Babcock Marine at Rosyth you'll also need to complete a pre-apprenticeship course at Carnegie or Adam Smith Colleges, from which the company undertakes to interview all successful candidates.)
Whatever industry you work in, businesses will always say that it is impossible to predict the future with 100% accuracy. However, if you complete the apprenticeship or graduate scheme, the industry will always try to ensure that there is a career path for you. And with a solid training and work experience other career paths may well open up - although we hope you will stay in the industry.
This varies by company. As an example from one of the shipbuilding companies, at the start of your apprenticeship you'll be paid approx around £155 per week - rising to around £400 on completion of your training.
Depending on how quickly you learn, your apprenticeship will take between 3 to 4 years before you are ‘time-served’.
In most cases, yes. All modern apprentices in Scotland gain a nationally recognised, high level qualification - a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) at Level 3 - through a combination of on-the-job training to gain practical skills and expertise, as well as further study to understand the theory underpinning the job. This training may take place at a further education college or another training centre and time off will be granted by the employer as a key part of the Apprenticeship agreement.
The main trades are Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Pipe Engineering, Fabrication, Engineering Design and Welding.
The carriers are planned to be completed by 2017/18, so even on that one contract there is quite some time to go. But while the future aircraft carriers are undoubtedly a big contract, they are by no means the only work that the shipyards and Scotland's marine and other engineering companies have on the books. Far from it. In addition to other shipbuilding projects, both current and in the pipeline, Scotland is involved in ship maintenance and marine equipment manufacture.
It's difficult to speculate what the precise timing of future shipbuilding programmes will be. But Ministry of Defence plans include a long term build programme for both warships and support vessels and continuing through-life maintenance of the fleet. Export ships are also big business and one that Scottish-based companies will continue to pursue.
Job prospects in shipbuilding are extremely positive. Currently in Scotland, work is underway on the Type 45 Air Defence Destroyer programme - a total of six ships, only one of which has so far been delivered. And the never-ending maintenance of complex warships for the Royal Navy continues to create a need for skilled people. The immediate future will see Scottish companies undertaking contracts for the building and integration of two aircraft carriers, the largest ships to enter Royal Navy service. There are also potential contracts with export customers.
If you opt for a career in the industry, at apprentice or graduate level or if you are re-entering work, you will be provided with training to enable you to become fully qualified in your chosen field.
You will be working with state-of-the-art equipment on some of the most advanced programmes in the world, and if you can do that, you can do almost anything!