In a tribute to the trailblazing women who contributed to the war effort during World War II, BAE Systems has named its cutting-edge shipbuilding facility in Glasgow the Janet Harvey Hall.
The vast new hall, part of a £300 million transformation project aimed at revolutionizing shipbuilding on the River Clyde, honours the legacy of Janet Harvey, who joined the Clyde shipyards as an electrician in 1940 at 18.
During the war, Harvey became one of the few women in the predominantly male shipbuilding industry. She played a crucial role in the UK’s war effort, working alongside approximately 100,000 men in the Clyde’s shipyards to produce vital warships and merchant vessels. Harvey spent six years working at the Fairfield yard in Govan and the John Brown shipyard further down the river before returning to her pre-war life.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Harvey was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Engineering by Glasgow Caledonian University at the age of 96. She passed away on Armistice Day in 2023 at the age of 101, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the shipbuilding industry.
The decision to name the new facility Janet Harvey Hall is not only a tribute to her individual efforts but also an acknowledgement of all the women who stepped up to take on industrial roles during the war. June Cofflet, Harvey’s niece, expressed the family’s delight at the honour, stating, “Janet would have been delighted to have the shipbuilding hall named after her. She was so very proud of the work she did during the war.”
Jen Blee, Business Operations Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business, emphasized the significance of the naming, saying, “It’s fitting that a pioneer such as Janet will remain synonymous with our efforts to re-imagine complex shipbuilding on the upper Clyde. Today, women like Janet are much more commonplace in our yards than they once were, and their numbers and impact continue to grow.”
The Janet Harvey Hall, currently under construction at BAE Systems’ Govan site, is set to transform shipbuilding on the Clyde. The colossal facility, spanning more than 170 meters, will accommodate two Type 26 frigates, each measuring approximately 150 meters long and weighing around 8,000 tonnes.
Key features of the Janet Harvey Hall include:
- Over 6,000 tonnes of steel and 20,000 cubic meters of concrete used in construction
- Two 100-tonne cranes and two 20-tonne cranes for efficient and safe shipbuilding
- Capacity for up to 500 workers per shift
- Advanced shipbuilding techniques to expedite the delivery of new warships
- Protection from adverse weather conditions, enabling uninterrupted work
The Janet Harvey Hall is an important component of BAE Systems’ plan to enhance shipbuilding capabilities in Glasgow. With the facility’s advanced features and increased capacity, the construction of the Royal Navy’s state-of-the-art Type 26 frigates, designed for anti-submarine warfare and high-intensity air defence, will be significantly streamlined.
The investment in the new shipbuilding hall is expected to sustain approximately 1,700 jobs in Scotland and an additional 2,300 jobs across the wider UK supply chain, boosting both local and national economies. Moreover, the improved efficiency in delivering cutting-edge warships will bolster the UK’s defence capabilities and ensure the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of maritime technology.
TLDR:
- BAE Systems names new shipbuilding facility in Glasgow the Janet Harvey Hall, honouring the WWII electrician pioneer
- Harvey was one of the few women working in the Clyde shipyards during the war, making significant contributions to the war effort.
- The state-of-the-art facility will revolutionize shipbuilding on the Clyde, focusing on the construction of Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy.
- The Janet Harvey Hall is expected to sustain thousands of jobs and bolster UK defence capabilities.
