WORK on the fifth of eight new frigates for the Royal Navy officially started in Glasgow.

A BAE Systems Naval Ships apprentice performed the steel-cutting ceremony in front of top Navy officers and politicians at the Govan shipyard.

Michael Miller had the first task in building the ship which is to be named HMS Sheffield and will be put to sea as a naval deterrent and submarine hunter.

(Image: BAE Systems) Michael, 27, a 2nd year burner apprentice, said: “It feels great to be part of this tradition.”

He used to work in a coffee shop but added: “It has been the best move for me.”

(Image: newsquest)

Sir Simon Lister, Managing Director, BAE Systems, Naval Ships highlighted that shipbuilding has a bright future on the Clyde.

He said: “Welcome to the place where ships are born.”

(Image: newsquest)

He mentioned the new ship hall named after Janet Harvey “a pioneering technician who paved the way for women in shipbuilding today”.

And he spoke about the Applied Shipbuilding Academy in Scotstoun, training the workforce and the future workforce.

Sir Simon said: “We are not only delivering for today but preparing our enterprise for generations to come.”

The Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP and Simon Lister, managing director of BAE Systems' Naval Ships businessThe Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP and Simon Lister, managing director of BAE Systems' Naval Ships business (Image: BAE Systems) Maria Eagle, Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, said the government wants to see the investment in defence having an economic benefit to the UK.

Of the commitment to Glasgow, she said: “It’s a huge commitment there are more of the Type 26 ships to be built here and we’ve got plans to build future ships.

There’s a pipeline, which of course have not yet been competed for but when they are, Glasgow with all the investment, has the know-how, the quality it can offer is going to be a big part of any future competition, I’m sure.”

“These ships and the capabilities they have will enable us to defend our nations for decades to come.”

(Image: BAE Systems) The frigate will be the third HMS Sheffield, the first having seen action in World War II and the second sunk during the Falklands War with 20 men dead and 26 injured.

Falklands veterans who served on HMS Sheffield were present at the ceremony.

Construction of all of the City Class Type 26 frigates is expected to be completed by the mid-2030s, with HMS Glasgow, the first in class, entering service by the end of 2028.    

The programme is supporting 2000 jobs and apprenticeships at BAE and around 4000 jobs in the wider industry through the supply chain.