Our Stories
On Wednesday 17 October, Halifax Partnership recognized exceptional Halifax businesses, organizations, and individuals that act to keep youth in Nova Scotia by hiring them, offering experiential learning opportunities, and engaging in the Connector Program.
Irving Shipbuilding was honoured to be awarded the Game Changer award as Best Youth Employer, large company, for 2018.
In 2011, Irving Shipbuilding was selected as Canada’s Combatant Shipbuilder. Over the next 30 years, our team of 1,900 (and growing) world class shipbuilders will construct 21 modern naval vessels and continue our legacy as Canada’s shipbuilding and in-service support centre of excellence.
Our work building and maintaining the Navy’s fleet is creating long-term sustainable employment opportunities for thousands of people of different ages, talents, and backgrounds. This includes ironworkers, welders, electricians, accountants, engineers, and supply chain professionals, among many other careers.
While our team consists of individuals with decades of shipbuilding knowledge and expertise, we are also focused on attracting and retaining recent graduates and young professionals that will lead future generations of shipbuilders as they build and maintain the Royal Canadian Naval Fleet.
Over the last three years we have hired over 500 employees between 20 and 29 years of age, representing close to 40 percent of new hires. We continually provide opportunities for training, growth and development as well as engagement initiatives and membership opportunities with professional governing bodies and associations. Professional development is part of our culture.
To attract youth, Irving Shipbuilding participates in paid co-ops, summer internships and apprenticeships. Many of these young professionals have full-time offers in-hand before they graduate.
Halifax Shipyard currently employs more than 300 apprentices, the most of any employer in Nova Scotia. The in-house Production Training and Development Department ensures each apprentice receives full scope of training in their trade. Apprentices are rotated throughout workstations to ensure they are developed in to well-rounded shipbuilders.
The establishment of the Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) was designed to provide opportunities and support for Nova Scotians to find careers in shipbuilding, with a focus on underrepresented communities. This initiative has lead to training and employment opportunities for women, indigenous Canadians, and African Nova Scotians.
And this is just the beginning. During peak construction of the next generation of Canadian Surface Combatants, Halifax Shipyard’s workforce will increase to more than 2,800 shipbuilders, providing further opportunities for Nova Scotia’s youth and young professionals to stay and grow their careers right here in Nova Scotia.
To learn more about growing your career with Irving Shipbuilding, visit ShipsForCanada.ca/Careers.
