Falmouth University and commercial shipbuilder A&P launch partnership to develop skills

A pilot cohort of APCL A&P Falmouth project managers will commence their studies in January 2026, equipping them with the skills to deliver complex ship repair projects in Cornwall and when in-service across the globe. The level five diploma will then be rolled out across the UK to the wider APCL Group, with future cohorts benefiting from in-person teaching and online delivery. 

The initiative comes weeks after Falmouth secured £1.4m funding to invest in advanced manufacturing and design equipment that will help drive the development of high-skilled industries in Cornwall. The investment will create a suite of equipment including high-powered production-grade 3D scanners and printers capable of working with nylon, resin and metal, as well as immersive VR/AR tools, all of which are increasingly being used across a diverse range of industries such as marine engineering, healthcare and construction, and securing the importance of design led learning in these industries. 

Professor Emma Hunt, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Falmouth University, said: 

“This partnership between Falmouth University and APCL A&P Falmouth shows what happens when creativity, industry expertise and regional commitment come together. The uniqueness of this course is that it embodies the skills at the core of the creative practice that we specialise in and allies them with APCL A&P Falmouth marine’s expertise.” 

“Cornwall’s economy is diverse and evolving, with creative skills and thinking at the heart of it. As a leading specialist creative institution, with a worldwide reputation for supporting the creative and cultural industries but also for using creative knowledge in other sectors, we’re proud to work with employers and businesses like A&P and play a key role by developing the skilled workforce Cornwall needs.” 

APCL A&P Falmouth is one of the UK’s largest ship repair complexes in the UK. With three large graving docks and extensive alongside deep-water berthing providing capacity for vessels up to 100,000 tonnes, A&P Falmouth provides a complete range of marine repair services. A centre of excellence for ferries, mobilisation and demobilisation works, jack-ups, pontoons and tankers and MoD defence vessels, A&P Falmouth is also a busy working port, handling over 100,000 tonnes of product annually. APCL A&P Falmouth was also recently awarded overall winner in the Cornwall Sustainability Awards 2025.  

Mike Spicer, Managing Director of APCL A&P Falmouth said: “APCL A&P Falmouth is absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Falmouth University to deliver this new Diploma in Ship Repair Management.  

“The diploma will provide our project managers with essential marine engineering skills, whilst also equipping our workforce with practical entrepreneurial skills which will champion innovative and creative thinking and encourage the application of key business skills across our business. 

“The APCL Group is committed to advancing the training and development of our entire workforce and this latest initiative will not only benefit APCL but our network of customers across the globe.” 

To mark the launch of the partnership, a roundtable on Cornwall’s skills and workforce landscape was held at Falmouth University last week. Chaired by Falmouth’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emma Hunt, it was also attended by A&P Falmouth’s Managing Director Mike Spicer, Jayne Kirkham, MP for Truro & Falmouth, Councillor Leigh Frost, Leader of Cornwall Council, Cornwall Council’s Head of Skills Stacey Sleeman and Nick Rashley, Deputy Director of Regions, Skills England. 

The roundtable discussed: 

• Cornwall’s evolving workforce and skills needs 
• Funding for adult education 
• Opportunities emerging through the Growth and Skills Levy 
• The importance of collaboration between the creative industries, educators and government to strengthen Cornwall’s long-term economic resilience through Cornwall’s core organisations. 

Jayne Kirkham, MP for Truro and Falmouth said: 

 “This initiative goes to the heart of the Government’s Post 16 Education and Skills White Paper, which calls for regional partners to work together to develop level 5 qualifications to support regional growth. This is a brilliant example of sector leaders working in partnership to utilise their expertise and experience.” 

Cllr Leigh Frost, Leader of Cornwall Council said: 

“These are two sector leading organisations who embody our heritage, expertise and diverse business community working together to support Cornwall’s growth by developing and retaining a high skilled workforce. This partnership provides an aspirational pathway for apprenticeship students who completed their studies with APCL A&P Falmouth and have ambitions to move up through the company to stay in Cornwall and develop their careers.” 

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