Scottish Enterprise has launched a £525,000 campaign to attract 1,000 new workers to the shipbuilding industry.

The three-year campaign seeks to recruit engineers and technicians to work on a £4bn Royal Navy contract to build two new aircraft carriers.

The ships due for completion in 2014 and 2016 are to become largest ever commissioned by the Royal Navy.

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Ian McMahon, head of the aerospace, defence and marine team at Scottish Enterprise said: "The shipbuilding industry is a growing and vibrant business, which is welcome news in what is currently a climate of economic uncertainty.

"However, we need to ensure that we retain the vital skills that make Scotland the leading centre for high-technology warship construction and repair."

"With the future aircraft carrier project on the immediate horizon and more ships in the pipeline, ship building yards are gearing up for the future," he said.

Mr McMahon concluded: "There has never been a better time to launch a campaign to recruit and train engineers to meet the demands that this will bring."

(GK/JM)