A major change has been announced at Merseyside's historic shipyard, just a week after a £150 million takeover was confirmed. Balaena, the maritime engineering and shipbuilding group that also owns sites in Gibraltar and Padstow, has acquired APCL Group, the umbrella organisation operating Cammell Laird.
CEO Simon Gillett Discusses the Purchase
The ECHO met with Balaena Group CEO Simon Gillett on June 15, who spoke about the purchase of Cammell Laird, what workers can expect from the new company, and the recent defence spending review. Mr Gillett also announced a decision to introduce a new name for the shipyard.
The shipyard on the banks of the River Mersey will no longer be known as Cammell Laird. Instead, it will be called Balaena Birkenhead, bringing it in line with the company's other sites.
Reason for the Name Change
Asked why the name change was being introduced, Mr Gillett said: "It's not been an easy decision, as you can imagine. This has been a year getting to this process, in terms of the acquisition, and through that process, we've flip-flopped all over the place with the name change, yes or no?"
The change has received a less-than-enthusiastic reception from some in the region. A commenter on the ECHO said: "I assume almost everybody on Merseyside (and probably in the rest of the country) who are already aware of the yard will continue to refer to it as Lairds."
Investment and Job Security
Explaining what workers can expect, specifically in relation to investment and job security, Mr Gillett added: "Well, first thing is business as usual. There's no change for change's sake here, especially with all the good stuff they're already doing here." He added: "Growth is what we're going for, and long-term growth and security for the employees here."
The takeover and rebranding mark a new chapter for the historic yard, with Balaena promising continuity and future expansion.
