Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon, has visited Princess Yachts’ Langage site to see first-hand the skills behind one of Plymouth’s best-known manufacturers and hear about the challenges facing the business.

Princess Yachts builds four different models at Langage, ranging from 55ft to 65ft, with a yacht coming off the production line around every eight days.

During the visit, Miss Smith toured the production line. She met employees with a range of different backgrounds, including long-serving members of the workforce, apprentices learning their trade at Princess and employees who trained elsewhere before later joining the company.

She also met third-year apprentice Leo and heard more about Princess Yachts’ four-year apprenticeship programme, which helps train the next generation of carpenters and engineers.

The visit also provided an opportunity to discuss wider pressures facing the business, including rising costs, recruitment and the impact of the Government’s Employment Rights Act.

Princess raised concerns about the effect the changes could have on the time available to train and assess new starters. With some highly skilled roles taking months to learn, the company is having to consider how a process which would normally take longer can be compressed into around five months.

Miss. Smith said: “It was fantastic to visit Princess Yachts and meet the team behind such an important Plymouth business.

There is so much skill and experience at Princess, with people who have spent years developing their craft alongside the next generation coming through.

Time and again, businesses are telling me about their concerns over the Employment Rights Act and the impact it could have on recruitment and training. The Government needs to start listening to employers and understand the practical impact these changes will have.

Princess is a brilliant example of the skilled manufacturing we have here in Plymouth, and it's great to see the expertise behind every yacht.”

Adrian Bratt, Chief People Officer at Princess Yachts, said: "It was a pleasure to welcome Rebecca to Langage, where she could see first-hand what manufacturing truly means at Princess."

"Unlike automated production, our processes are built on the dedication and craftsmanship of our people, who in many cases have spent decades developing their expertise with us.”

“That is why we are committed to developing the next generation of boatbuilders through initiatives such as our apprenticeship programme, but this does not come without its challenges. Like many businesses, we are navigating rising operating costs and the ongoing difficulty of attracting new talent. Rebecca recognises how important it is for employers to have the right support in place to invest in their people, and the positive impact that can have on local communities."

Headquartered in Plymouth, Devon, the brand's main shipyards are deeply rooted in the area, including historic maritime locations.

The launch of the Princess 32 in the 1970s marked a major turning point, leading to expanded manufacturing and a global distributor network.

Princess Yachts operates in 119 countries. Its shipyards cover a combined area of over 1.1 million square feet.