£12million investment announced as Fife yard marks one year under new owners
A Fife yard has marked its first year under new ownership with major investment.
The occasion was marked with a visit by Douglas Alexander MP, Scottish Secretary, to Navantia in Methil as its parent company announced a further £12m+ investment in the Methil site, a new contract win, and continued workforce growth.
During the visit, the Secretary of State met the workforce, apprentices and Navantia UK’s management team. Discussions focused on yard’s progress over the past 12 months and on how Methil and Navantia UK can further support the Government’s defence and industrial ambitions.
Mr Alexander saw first-hand the Fleet Solid Support (FSS) transport barge under construction for the Ministry of Defence, which is now over 60% complete.
The new investment will support a dedicated skills centre, modern machinery, infrastructure improvements and new technology to ensure the yard can deliver future defence contracts for the Ministry of Defence. This is in addition to the existing investment which supported roof repairs, refurbished cranes, a new cutting machine, a steel plate storage facility, and a self-propelled modular transporter. With modern facilities and a growing, experienced workforce, Methil is well positioned to support future defence programmes, as the UK Government looks to strengthen defence and industrial capability.
Mr Alexander said: "The UK Government promised to secure the future of Methil and Arnish yards, and now we are seeing the delivery of that promise. With a busy order book, 120 new jobs and 20 new apprentices, the Methil yard is thriving. This is yet another example of what’s possible when the UK Government and industry work together to back Scotland's industrial heartlands."
Methil’s workforce has grown from 180 to 230 since January 2025.
Following the recent award of a vessel build export contract - won in competitive international tender against yards across Western Europe and the USA - Navantia UK is now recruiting 120 additional people including 20-plus new management-level roles. Methil will also look to recruit 20 apprentices this year
Since the acquisition of Harland & Wolff, Methil has been operational and delivering projects, including the FSS barge, an £8 million strategic investment by Navantia UK to transport ship blocks between Appledore and Belfast as part of the nationally important Fleet Solid Support programme.
Donato Martínez, chief executive officer of Navantia UK, said: “We were proud to welcome the Secretary of State and to demonstrate our commitment to building the resilient, world-class industrial capability the UK needs.
“The case for strengthening the UK’s sovereign industrial capability has never been clearer. Russia’s war in Ukraine, shifting geopolitics, rising competition in the Indo-Pacific and renewed focus on the High North are reshaping the global security environment. These challenges require industrial capacity, skilled people and sustained investment. This is exactly what Navantia UK is building.”