The Arnish fabrication yard, owned by Navantia, has been shortlisted in three categories in the ‘Made in Scotland’ awards for the manufacturing industry – with the yard’s Liam Campbell among those in the running for the title of Apprentice of the Year 2026.
As well as being shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year, Navantia UK Arnish is also shortlisted for Sustainability Initiative of the Year and Energy/Renewables Manufacturer of the Year. The Sustainability Initiative shortlisting recognises the agreement, signed earlier this year, with Point and Sandwick Trust that three of Navantia's sites including Arnish will run on 100 per cent certified energy generated by the community wind farm.
The Insider Made In Scotland 2026 Awards will take place at the Voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 8 October. The winners in the Scottish regional final will go through to the grand final, “where the best of British manufacturing will be celebrated”.
Navantia UK runs its apprenticeship programme at Arnish in partnership with the UHI North, West and Highlands campus in Stornoway.
Liam, 21, from Aird, Point, is a third year welding apprentice.
Navantia UK Arnish Albert Allan, Navantia UK Arnish General Manager, said: “To be shortlisted in three categories at a national awards is a proud moment for everyone at Arnish, and it reflects what the team has delivered over the past two years.
“Subsea structures built and tested here are now installed on the seabed off Trinidad and Tobago, we achieved Fit for Offshore Renewables status this year, and Navantia UK is investing £7m in the yard, including a new Skills Development Centre to train the next generation on site.
“It all means bigger contracts and more skilled jobs in the islands.”
He added: “I’m especially pleased for Liam. He came to us from a local bakery, following his father and grandfather into the yard, and he has grasped the opportunity with both hands. He’s doing brilliantly at UHI, his work is consistently excellent, and he shows you don't have to leave the islands to build a skilled, rewarding career.”
The awards, sponsored by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, have been launched by Insider Media as a “natural extension” to the ‘Made-in’ series of awards taking pace across the country.
There are 14 categories across the awards. They also recognise excellence in food and drink manufacturing, bio-tech, engineering manufacturing and leadership, product innovation and innovation in AI and digital tech and manufacturing supply chain.
There are awards for manufacturer of the year for businesses worth under £10million and over £10million and there is also an award for the outstanding contribution to manufacturing.
Announcing the shortlist, Insider Media said: “Scotland’s manufacturing sector is broad and diverse, with companies of every size and shape. The sector combines cutting edge technology with heritage and is a vital part o the economy.
“As such a key contributor to the UK manufacturing sector, these awards will recognise and celebrate the companies and individuals that are advancing manufacturing in Scotland and also feed through to the national Made in the UK awards as Scotland competes alongside its regional counterparts to win the coveted awards.”
