build

Oct. 31 (UPI) — The Panama Canal Authority plans to move forward with construction and subsequent concession of two new port terminals, with an estimated investment of $2.6 billion.

According to information released by the authority in a press release, the terminals are planned for two strategic areas along the canal, one on the Pacific coast in Corozal and the other on the Atlantic side at Telfers Island.

The goal of both projects is to expand container-handling capacity and strengthen Panama’s position as an interoceanic logistics hub.

With the addition of these two terminals, the goal is to increase container capacity from about 9.5 million (20-foot equivalent units per year to roughly 15 million. The projects also aim to expand port capacity in the interoceanic area, which is operating near its limit.

The Corozal port, on the Pacific coast, would take advantage of its proximity to the canal’s western entrance to capture container traffic using the interoceanic route. The Telfers Island project, on the Atlantic side, would cover the other end of the canal, facilitating both transshipment and cargo transfers between ocean routes.

Together, the two projects would reinforce Panama’s strategy to move beyond a transit route and establish itself as a logistics center, transshipment port and industrial platform for the region.

The authority said it expects to award the concessions by late 2026, allowing the terminals to begin operations in early 2029. It has begun discussions with representatives from about 20 global maritime operators to identify potential partners for the port development.

Representatives from APM Terminals (Denmark), Cosco Shipping Ports (China), CMA Terminals-CMA (France), DP World (United Arab Emirates), Hanseatic Global Terminals (Germany), MOL (Japan), PSA International (Singapore), SSA Marine-Carrix Group (United States) and Terminal Investment Limited (Switzerland) took part in the initial round of talks.

However, in Panama’s public debate, there is discussion over whether the concession model is the most appropriate way to develop the projects or if the authority should operate the terminals.

The discussion follows an audit by the Office of the Comptroller General into Panama Ports Co. — a subsidiary of China’s CK Hutchison that operates key terminals in the country– that found multimillion-dollar shortfalls in payments owed to the state, though the discrepancies were attributed to a “poorly negotiated” initial contract.

The Panama Canal also faces additional challenges in developing the new ports, including the need to secure supporting infrastructure, such as road access, dredging, water supply, logistics services and environmental impact studies required for these large-scale projects.

The initiative comes amid a global context in which container ships continue to grow in size, maritime routes seek greater efficiency and logistics hubs compete fiercely across Latin America.

As part of the Panama Canal’s Vision 2025-2035 plan, container terminals are seen as key components of the supporting infrastructure, second in importance only to the locks and navigation channels. Their development aims to strengthen port capacity and ensure the competitiveness of Panama’s maritime route.

In mid-September, the authority also announced development of a natural gas pipeline. The project aims to create a new overland energy route that would complement the existing canal by linking the Pacific and Atlantic coasts across Panama.

The pipeline would transport liquefied natural gas and other gases, such as propane and butane, from one ocean to the other without ships having to transit the canal. It would extend 47 miles and have the capacity to transfer up to 2.5 million barrels of gas per day.

The authority estimates that the project, which has drawn interest from about 45 energy companies, will cost between $4 billion and $5 billion. It also expects the concession to be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2026.

A MAJOR new museum is opening and it will be the largest archaeology museum in the world.

The Grand Egyptian Museum based in the winter sun spot of Cairo, will officially open to the public this weekend, after a decade of set backs.

The new museum traces the history of ancient Egyptian civilisation and cost around $1billion (£761million) to build.

One of the main attractions are the Tutankhamun Galleries, which are home to 5,000 objects that were discovered when the famous pharaoh’s tomb was back in 1922.

Visitors will even be able to see his golden coffin, discovered more than a century ago.

In another wing, visitors will find two of King Khufu’s (the pharaoh who commissioned the construction of the Pyramid of Giza) solar boats, which were found near the Pyramids.

And if you want a glimpse of the pyramids, just look out the building’s sprawling windows.

The galleries are split by eras of Egyptian civilisation and include Predynastic, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, the Late Kingdom, Ptolemaic Egypt and the Roman Period.

Throughout the museum, there are many interactive features such as pyramid building and papyrus making, and there is a children’s museum too.

According to Time Out, the museum features around 250,000 triangular stone pieces that make up its north facade.

There is then a pyramid-shaped entrance, with gold hieroglyphics.

As you enter, you will then see a huge atrium with an 11 metre tall statue of Ramses II – the pharaoh of Egypt between 1279 and 1213 BCE.

Also in the atrium, is a collection of restaurants and shops.

In total, the museum is the same size as 93 football pitches and once it is fully open, will house over 100,000 artefacts.

After exploring the museum, you can then head to the Pyramids of Giza which are just over a mile away.

Ahmed Youssel, CEO of the Egyptian Tourism Authority, told Time Out: “It’s not a museum, it’s a cultural hub.

“You don’t see history. You live history, you experience history.

“That’s the idea. When we build new museums, we have this concept of virtual reality, augmented reality – electronic things everywhere.”

The museum was originally meant to open back in 2013, but it has been delayed several times due to a variety of reasons including politics, regional conflict, budget and the Covid-19 pandemic.

And last year it then opened for its soft launch, ahead of the official opening this weekend.

Tickets to the museum cost £23.36 per adult and £11.76 per child, and they can either be bought in advance online or at the museum.

Cairo has highs of 21C during the winter months, and lows of around 11C.

In other museum news, the UK’s newest national museum is more like an Ikea store – and Kate Middleton is already a fan.

Plus, a major UK museum named one of the best in Europe to get huge £2.7million expansion.

GYEONGJU, South Korea — The United States will share closely held technology to allow South Korea to build a nuclear-powered submarine, President Trump said on social media Thursday after meeting with the country’s president.

President Lee Jae Myung stressed to Trump in their Wednesday meeting that the goal was to modernize the alliance with the U.S., noting plans to increase military spending to reduce the financial burden on America. The South Korean leader said there might have been a misunderstanding when they last spoke in August about nuclear-powered submarines, saying that his government was looking for nuclear fuel rather than weapons.

Lee said that if South Korea was equipped with nuclear-powered submarines, that it could help U.S. activities in the region.

U.S. nuclear submarine technology is widely regarded as some of the most sensitive and highly guarded technology the military possesses. The U.S. has been incredibly protective of that knowledge, and even a recently announced deal with close allies the United Kingdom and Australia to help the latter acquire nuclear submarine technology doesn’t feature the U.S. directly transferring its knowledge.

Trump’s post on social media comes ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose country possesses nuclear submarines, and after North Korea in March unveiled for the first time a nuclear-powered submarine under construction. It’s a weapons system that can pose a major security threat to South Korea and the U.S.

As Trump visited South Korea, North Korea said Wednesday it conducted successful cruise missile tests, the latest display of its growing military capabilities.

Pentagon officials didn’t immediately respond to questions about Trump’s announcement on sharing the nuclear sub technology with South Korea.

Megerian and Boak write for the Associated Press. Boak reported from Tokyo. AP writer Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report from Washington.

“For more than 150 years, every President has dreamt about having a Ballroom at the White House,” wrote no one ever until Donald J. Trump posted the proclamation on his Truth Social platform Monday.

The president’s plans to build the kind of venue that most Americans associate with Disney princesses, Von Trapp family soirees and let-them-eat-cake dynasties became a reality this week as construction crews began tearing down the White House East Wing to build Trump’s 90,000-square-foot, $300-million ballroom (up $100 million from estimates it cited earlier in the week). When completed, the venue will dwarf the main White House, boasting nearly twice the square footage of the executive residence.

The first photos and footage of heavy machinery knocking down parts of the East Wing on Monday triggered strong reactions from historians, preservationists, politicians and regular folk — all of whom took umbrage with the administration’s unilateral decision to alter the 224-year-old official residence of presidents dating back to John Adams.

The nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation has asked the administration to delay further demolition until plans for the ballroom undergo a public review process, arguing the massive addition “will overwhelm the White House itself.” Late-night host Stephen Colbert used the opportunity to call out another instance of institutional destruction: “We’re just nine months into Trump’s term, and he’s already going ‘Hulk Smash!’ on the White House. Last time, it took at least four years to bring a demo crew to the Capitol,” he said, referring to the Jan. 6 insurrection.

In an official statement posted on its website, the White House blamed the outcry over Trump’s East Wing demolition on a Democratic overreaction. “In the latest instance of manufactured outrage, unhinged leftists and their Fake News allies are clutching their pearls over President Donald J. Trump’s visionary addition of a grand, privately funded ballroom to the White House — a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and additions from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence.”

As if anyone but the Trumps — or the billionaires donating to his project — can afford pearls at this point. Trump says his ballroom is being privately funded by “many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly,” and that the burden of constructing his opulent project won’t fall on taxpayers. Good thing, because the bottom 90% is pretty tapped out.

Americans are struggling to keep up financially. Wage growth has slowed as prices for essentials continue to climb despite Trump’s 2024 campaign promises to beat back inflation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, from August 2024 to August 2025, the price of meat, poultry, fish and eggs rose 5.6%, nonalcoholic beverages increased 4.6%, and prices for fruits and vegetables increased 1.9%. Though gasoline prices dropped, the cost of electricity increased 6.2%, and the price of natural gas rose 13.8%. Other notable price increases include medical care (3.4%) and auto insurance (4.7%). But who needs lighting, heat or their health when there are ballrooms to build?

Renderings of the site released by the White House look suspiciously like the gilded ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private home and club in Palm Beach, Fla., with its gilded ceilings, imposing columns and ornate chandeliers.

The Oval Office and Cabinet Room have already been remade in Trump’s image, with the addition of numerous portraits, busts and gleaming gold flourishes. The bathroom off the Lincoln Bedroom has also reportedly been redone, but how does one top the now-infamous Mar-a-Lago restroom, with its crystal lighting fixtures, marble floors and stacks of classified-document boxes?

Addressing Republican Party senators at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “You probably hear the beautiful sound of construction in the back. … When I hear that sound, it reminds me of money.” At least he was honest.

The White House declined to give details on just who is funding the ballroom, and the opaque response raised concerns that the project may serve as a pay-to-play opportunity for those who wish to curry favor with the administration. The only known donor to date was revealed in court documents. YouTube is slated to pay $22 million toward the project as part of a settlement with Trump over his account being suspended following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump expects the ballroom to be completed before his term is up, he says. But will he leave a glass slipper behind?

WASHINGTON — The White House started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Trump’s $250-million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

Dramatic photos of the demolition work that began Monday showed construction equipment tearing into the East Wing façade and windows and other building parts in tatters on the ground. Some reporters watched from a park near the Treasury Department, which is next to the East Wing.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that the plan now called for the demolition of the entire East Wing and that the tear-down should be completed by Sunday. Citing a source, The Times said it marks an escalation over earlier plans for the ballroom.

Trump announced the start of construction in a social media post and referenced the work while hosting 2025 college baseball champs Louisiana State University and LSU-Shreveport in the East Room. He noted the work was happening “right behind us.”

“We have a lot of construction going on, which you might hear periodically,” he said, adding, “It just started today.”

The White House has moved ahead with the massive construction project despite not yet having sign-off from the National Capital Planning Commission, which approves construction work and major renovations to government buildings in the Washington area.

Its chairman, Will Scharf, who is also the White House staff secretary and one of Trump’s top aides, said at the commission’s September meeting that the agency does not have jurisdiction over demolition or site preparation work for buildings on federal property.

“What we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build,” Scharf said last month.

It was unclear whether the White House had submitted the ballroom plans for the agency’s review and approval. The White House did not respond to a request for comment and the commission’s offices are closed because of the government shutdown.

The Republican president had said in July when the project was announced that the ballroom would not interfere with the mansion itself.

“It’ll be near it but not touching it and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” he said of the White House.

The East Wing houses several offices, including those of the first lady. It was built in 1902 and and has been renovated over the years, with a second story added in 1942, according to the White House.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said those East Wing offices will be temporarily relocated during construction and that wing of the building will be modernized and renovated.

“Nothing will be torn down,” Leavitt said when she announced the project in July.

Trump insists that presidents have desired such a ballroom for 150 years and that he’s adding the massive 90,000-square-foot, glass-walled space because the East Room, which is the largest room in the White House with an approximately 200-person capacity, is too small. He also has said he does not like the idea of hosting kings, queens, presidents and prime ministers in pavilions on the South Lawn.

Trump said in the social media announcement that the project would be completed “with zero cost to the American Taxpayer! The White House Ballroom is being privately funded by many generous Patriots, Great American Companies, and, yours truly.”

The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.

At a dinner he hosted last week for some of the wealthy business executives who are donating money toward the construction cost, Trump said the project had grown in size and now will accommodate 999 people. The capacity was 650 seated people at the July announcement.

The White House has said it will disclose information on who has contributed money to build the ballroom, but has yet to do so.

Trump also said at last week’s event that the head of Carrier Global Corp., a leading manufacturer of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, had offered to donate the air-conditioning system for the ballroom.

Carrier confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday that it had done so. A cost estimate was not immediately available.

“Carrier is honored to provide the new iconic ballroom at the White House with a world-class, energy-efficient HVAC system, bringing comfort to distinguished guests and dignitaries in this historic setting for years to come,” the company said in an emailed statement.

The clearing of trees on the south grounds and other site preparation work for the construction started in September. Plans call for the ballroom to be ready before Trump’s term ends in January 2029.

Superville writes for the Associated Press.

The American dream is something like owning your own home, living comfortably, and seeing your children live happy and productive lives. That dream is even better if you can pass on your wealth to your children, which is basically what’s called generational wealth.

What if you don’t just pass on some money but instead pass on a reliable income stream? That’s what Realty Income (O 1.13%) could let you do. Here’s what you need to know about this unstoppable dividend stock.

The big number is, currently, 30

What does an unstoppable dividend stock look like? That’s pretty easy. It’s a company that manages to increase its dividend every year for decades on end. Real estate investment trust (REIT) Realty Income’s dividend streak is up to 30 years and counting at this point.

What’s notable about that streak is that it includes some of the worst economic periods of recent history. And some of the worst bear markets. Realty Income’s dividend grew through the Dot.com crash, the Great Recession (and associated bear market) between 2007 and 2009, and the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s notable is that the Great Recession was particularly difficult for the real estate sector, and the pandemic was devastating to retailers, which make up over 70% of Realty Income’s tenants.

Basically, Realty Income has proven that it has what it takes to survive over the long term while continuing to reward investors with a progressive dividend. But that’s not all. It also happens to have an investment-grade-rated balance sheet, so it is financially strong. And it is geographically diversified, with properties in both the U.S. market and across Europe. While the portfolio is tilted toward retail properties, they tend to be easy to buy, sell, and release if needed. The rest of the portfolio, meanwhile, adds some diversification. All in all, it is a well structured REIT.

Plenty of generational opportunity ahead

The big draw for Realty Income is going to be the dividend yield, which sits at 5.4% or so. That’s well above the 1.2% the S&P 500 index is offering today and the 3.8% or so yield of the average REIT. But, as highlighted above, this isn’t exactly a high-risk investment. Why is the yield so high?

The answer is that Realty Income is a boring, slow-growth business. Over the three decades of dividend growth, the dividend has increased at a compound annual rate of 4.2%. That’s above the historical growth rate of inflation, so the buying power of the dividend has increased over time. But all in all, this is not an exciting stock to own and, frankly, isn’t meant to be. The company trademarked the nickname “The Monthly Dividend Company” for a reason: The REIT’s goal is specifically to be a reliable dividend stock.

There’s no reason to believe it will be anything but reliable in the future. Notably, it is the largest net-lease REIT, giving it an edge on its competitors when it comes to costs and deal making. Management has also been diversifying the business with the goal of increasing the number of levers it has to pull to support its slow and steady growth. None of its efforts involve undue risk, either. Slow and steady is the goal, but so far that’s worked out very well for dividend investors.

A simple and generational proposition

What you are getting when you buy Realty Income is a boring dividend stock that will pay you well to own it. And when the time comes, you can pass that income stream on to the next generation. Building generational wealth is a great thing, but just handing on a pile of money isn’t the only way to do it.

Imagine living a comfortable retirement with the monthly dividends you collect from Realty Income. And while you do that, you can think about how much easier the lives of your children will be when they collect that income instead of you.

Google announced it will invest $15 billion to build a new AI hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in southeastern India. Pictured from left are: Bikash Koley, vice president of Global Infrastructure and Capacity at Google Cloud; Ashwini Vaishnaw, IT minister; Nirmala Sitharaman, India minister of Finance and
Corporate Affairs; Nara Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh; Nara Lokesh, minister for Information Technology for Andhra Pradesh; and Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. Photo courtesy of Google.

Oct. 14 (UPI) — Google announced it will invest $15 billion to build an AI hub in India, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian announced Tuesday.

The hub will be in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, in southeastern India, and will reportedly be a 1-gigawatt facility.

The investment is Google’s largest Indian investment to date and will create Google’s largest AI hub in the world outside of the United States, Kurian said.

On Monday, Lokesh Nara, Andhra Pradesh’s minister of Human Resources, posted on X about the investment.

“After a year of intense discussions and relentless effort, tomorrow we make history. Google will sign an MOU with the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh for a 1GW project with an investment of $10 billion USD. It is a massive leap for our state’s digital future, innovation, and global standing. This is just the beginning,” he wrote.

The Indian Economic Times reported on Saturday that the investment would come from Google’s Indian subsidiary Raiden Infotech, which will also develop three campuses in Visakhapatnam.

According to an analysis commissioned by Google by Access Partnership, the AI hub is expected to generate at least $15 billion over five years in American gross domestic product because of new economic activity from increased cloud and AI adoption, as well as the American talent and resources involved in developing and operating the AI hub, the Google press release said.

“The Google AI hub in Visakhapatnam represents a landmark investment in India’s digital future,” Kurian said in a statement. “By delivering industry-leading AI infrastructure at scale, we are enabling businesses to innovate faster and creating meaningful opportunities for inclusive growth. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to the Indian and U.S. governments to harness AI responsibly and drive transformative impact for society.”

Part of the investment will be the construction of a new international subsea gateway, including multiple international subsea cables to land in Visakhapatnam, which is on the coast of the Bay of Bengal. This will help India meet its increasing digital demands, giving route diversity to complement subsea cable landings in Mumbai and Chennai and securing India’s digital backbone.

“This significant investment in Andhra Pradesh marks a new chapter in India’s digital transformation journey,” said N. Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, in a statement. “We are proud to host India’s first truly gigawatt-scale data center and Google’s first AI hub in India, which is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, AI adoption, and long-term support for businesses and startups in the state.”

Although fixtures against Sri Lanka and Pakistan should be straightforward for England as they look to continue their winning streak, they could prove decisive with back-to-back matches against India and Australia to come.

England thrashed South Africa in what could have been a tricky opener, avoided a scare against Bangladesh and now have a golden opportunity to make sure they go into those games against the pre-tournament favourites unbeaten.

But they will have to contend with more spin-friendly conditions in Colombo on Saturday, with opener Tammy Beaumont saying the nature of the pitches is reducing the gulf between teams.

“Every game in this World Cup is big. Bangladesh played so well against us and Sri Lanka will be a challenge in home conditions,” she told BBC Sport.

“The conditions are bringing all the teams into it, so it’s important we have to keep playing well.

“It certainly feels like the fixtures have worked quite well for us, so hopefully we can keep building that momentum and it will be all guns blazing by the time we get to Indore.”

The surface in Indore is likely to be the most batter-friendly that England will experience, with Australia’s 326 there against New Zealand the highest total of this World Cup.

While England’s batters struggled against spin against Bangladesh in Guwahati, they are not alone.

Australia’s extraordinary batting depth saved them from what would have been a mind-blowing defeat by Pakistan, recovering from 76-7 to post 221-9 in Colombo, but England have also proved they have a well-rounded attack for the surfaces.

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Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.

Germany is the latest country to announce plans for a missile-toting new class of uncrewed vessels that will serve as arsenal ship ‘wingmen,’ supporting conventional surface combatants. The Large Remote Missile Vessels (LRMV) are part of the German Navy’s modernization drive and may be especially relevant to help offset limitations in the firepower of some of its other warships, an issue we have discussed in the past.

The plan to procure three LRMVs is outlined in the German Navy’s Kurs Marine document, which outlines the fleet that it wants to operate by 2035. While the LRMVs will serve as arsenal ships to supplement the new class of F127 frigates, the German Navy also wants to buy 18 smaller uncrewed surface vessels, known as Future Combat Surface Systems (FCSS), to supplement its corvettes, and at least 12 Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (LUUV) to support its submarines.

The most striking development, however, concerns the LRMV, which is planned from the outset for uncrewed operations, although presumably they could also be used in an optionally crewed capacity.

It’s not exactly clear what kind of size the LRMVs will be. Presuming a diagram published in the Kurs Marine document is fairly accurate, they would be around half the length of the F127 frigate, which would make them around 260 feet long, roughly corvette-sized. However, according to the German defense and security website hartpunkt, citing naval insiders, the dimensions and displacement of the vessels hadn’t been determined, so not too much should be read into the diagram.

Clearer is the role that the LRMVs will undertake, essentially as floating missile platforms that can bolster the magazine capacity of the planned six F127 frigates, in particular. The arsenal ships will be equipped with vertical launchers for different missiles, to support the F127’s air defense and maritime strike taskings. The number of launch containers is also not yet finalized, hartpunkt reports. Meanwhile, the F127 is expected to feature 64 cells, as part of the popular Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS).

The VLS cells in the LRMV will likely be loaded with the same weapons that arm the F127 frigate: Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) for general-area air defense and RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) for short-/medium-range air defense. They could also possibly field SM-6 for long-range air and missile defense, as well as strike, and Tomahawk cruise missiles for longer range strike. SM-6 and Tomahawk would require longer “strike length” VLS cells. The preliminary artwork in the Kurs Marine document shows an array of vertical launchers mounted, at least partly, above the deck at the rear of the ship. However, this should be considered highly provisional.

The German government is currently reviewing a plan to buy the Tomahawk, which would place it in an elite operators’ club. Other options could include the 3SM Tyrfing supersonic cruise naval missile currently being developed by Germany and Norway, and potentially even the new “deep precision strike” weapon, a missile with a range of over 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles) that Germany and the United Kingdom are working on.

In its air defense role, the ‘parent’ frigate would be responsible for target detection and targeting, commanding missile launches from the smaller LRMV, which will effectively serve as additional floating magazine capacity. This also means the LRMV doesn’t need to accommodate its own expensive sensors. Alternatively, another surface vessel could provide the data, or it could be received from any other platform, with data relayed via satellite link.

Reportedly, the LRMV would also carry some limited self-defense armament, which would presumably have to be controlled from another (crewed) platform.

While seen as a ‘wingman’ to the F127 frigate, it could also complement the anti-submarine-warfare-optimized F126 class of frigates. As we have discussed before, these warships are comparatively lightly armed for their size, with a Mk 41 VLS for up to 64 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 missiles, and launchers for eight Kongsberg Naval Strike Missiles (NSM), but no current plans to arm them with Standard Missiles or Tomahawk.

The LRMV makes an interesting parallel with the two new support vessels planned for the Royal Netherlands Navy. These ships will be around 174 feet long and will displace around 600 tons, including containerized weapons and sensors for a variety of different missions, and a relatively tiny crew. Like the German design, the Dutch support vessels will bring additional air defense missiles to help existing Dutch frigates.

As well as being entirely uncrewed, the LRMV is also intended to operate in very different conditions. While the Dutch support vessel is optimized for use in the North Sea and for patrol duties, the LRMV will be an ocean-going design that can serve in the Atlantic. The German ships will need to have much more robust seaworthiness and will likely need to be considerably larger.

On the other hand, the operating concept for the LRMV foresees them loitering in a specific sea area for an extended period, so they won’t necessarily have to have the same level of performance as the F127 frigate, or an equivalent surface combatant.

While the shipbuilding phase for the LRMV is not necessarily a significant challenge, Germany will still need to develop resilient and reliable command and communications to ensure the ships can operate safely in a potentially highly contested environment. Experience with the Future Combat Surface System (FCSS) program, for a more modest arsenal ship, should help in this regard. Having a lower-cost supplement to the F127 class is also a key consideration, with the new frigates being the most expensive current German defense procurement, with a program cost of more than $30 billion for all six ships.

Overall, Germany’s plans for the LRMV reflect a growing interest in support vessels with an arsenal ship role. These tend to be either uncrewed or with very small crews, and they are indicative of the current operational realities, in which conventional ships threaten to be overwhelmed by massed missile and drone attacks.

The need to boost naval air defense coverage, in particular, has been made clear by the campaign against Houthi missiles and drones targeting shipping in the Middle East in recent months, as well as Iran’s unprecedented, massed attack on Israel, using the same kinds of weapons. In particular, the limited stock of air defense missiles found on most warships has emerged as a concern, and one that the support vessels will help address. Developments elsewhere in the world, including in China, suggest that swarming drones as well as ever more capable missiles will be a feature of naval warfare from now on.

These same concerns are seeing interest in the United States and other countries in large uncrewed surface vessels with modular weapons payloads, allowing them to be adapted for a range of missions as required. While it’s unclear what kind of modularity the LRMV might offer, having an uncrewed ship, even simply to increase the basic weapons magazine available to surface combatants, could be very useful for the German Navy and help pave the way toward more regular and extensive uncrewed operations at sea.

At the same time, there are a lot of unknowns about actually operating an uncrewed ship equipped with heavy armament on operational patrols and over great distances. Command and control and networking architecture will be a huge factor in the success of any such concept. There are also security concerns, clearly. The idea that more naval capacity can be relatively inexpensively gained through uncrewed surface combatants of the larger variety is extremely attractive, but actually doing it reliably is still something that’s yet to be seen on a wide operational scale.

Contact the author: [email protected]

Nvidia‘s (NVDA 0.27%) announcement that it will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI is being hailed by the company as a massive bet on the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Still, investors should take a closer look at what is really going on here. The money OpenAI receives will ultimately be plowed right back into Nvidia hardware, mostly through Oracle‘s cloud buildout, where the two companies recently signed a massive $300 billion deal.

OpenAI plans to deploy Nvidia systems that need 10 gigawatts of power, which is equal to roughly 4 million to 5 million graphics processing units (GPUs). If that sounds like a lot, it is, as it’s about the same total number of GPUs that Nvidia will ship this year. The first $10 billion of Nvidia’s investment will be deployed as soon as the first gigawatt of capacity is up, and the rest will be rolled out in stages as new data centers come online.

Circular financing

On paper, the OpenAI investment helps secure billions of dollars in future demand. But it’s worth remembering that Nvidia is now helping finance one of its biggest customers to keep buying its chips. This is called circular financing.

Nvidia is essentially funding its own demand. This is exactly what Cisco Systems (CSCO -0.93%) did during the internet bubble, when it provided credit to telecoms so they could buy more Cisco routers. Those sales looked great — until the capital dried up and the entire market collapsed.

This is also a defensive move by Nvidia. More and more of Nvidia’s largest customers are designing their own custom AI chips. Alphabet has its TPUs, Amazon has Trainium and Inferentia, and Microsoft is working on its own chip. OpenAI itself has been developing custom chips to bring its costs down, and before this announcement, it placed a $10 billion order with Broadcom for custom chips to be delivered next year.

This is the same threat that Nvidia saw play out in crypto, where ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) displaced GPUs for Bitcoin mining. Nvidia doesn’t want to see that happen again. By investing in OpenAI, it’s trying to keep one of its biggest customers locked into the Nvidia ecosystem.

This also comes at a time when the market is shifting more toward inference, where Nvidia’s moat is much smaller. Training large language models (LLMs) is where Nvidia’s CUDA software platform shines. However, inference isn’t as complex and doesn’t require the same deep software integration. That’s why hyperscalers (owners of massive data centers) are so motivated to build custom chips.

Inference is also a continuous cost, so the economics of cost per inference start to dominate the discussion. That’s why Nvidia also took a $5 billion stake in Intel and announced a collaboration on AI processors, as it’s also trying to stave off Advanced Micro Devices in the inference market and keep its grip on this next phase of AI computing.

Is this a house of cards?

There’s no question that Nvidia is in a dominant position right now, and the OpenAI deal only strengthens its near-term outlook. But its OpenAI investment clearly looks like a defensive move that adds risk. When Cisco used circular financing during the internet boom, it looked brilliant, until the customers it was funding went bust.

Both Nvidia and OpenAI are better positioned, but the principle is the same: Nvidia is using its balance sheet to keep demand high. That works as long as the AI boom keeps running, but it makes the company more exposed if spending slows or if hyperscalers switch to cheaper solutions.

Nvidia remains the key player in AI infrastructure, but this deal is a reminder that its growth isn’t risk-free. A lot of Nvidia’s success is now riding on an unprofitable company that is bleeding massive amounts of cash that it is financing. OpenAI hasn’t actually proven yet that it has a great business model, and if it fails, this becomes a house of cards that collapses onto Nvidia.

Geoffrey Seiler has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Alphabet, Amazon, Bitcoin, Cisco Systems, Intel, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft, short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft, and short November 2025 $21 puts on Intel. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Sparks announced they are joining the WNBA’s facilities upgrade boom, building a $150-million, 55,000-square-foot training and practice facility in El Segundo that is set to open ahead of the 2027 season.

The venue will include two WNBA regulation basketball courts along with a locker room, weight room and athletic training space. The team states the facility will also feature an outdoor spa, indoor hydrotherapy suites, dedicated nap rooms, wellness spaces for yoga or mediation, and extensive use of natural light and retractable doors.

“We’re building a place where Sparks players can be at their best on and off the court,” said Eric Holoman, Sparks managing partner and governor. “From cutting-edge training and recovery spaces to family and community areas, every corner of this facility was designed with them at the center.”

The team did not disclose the venue’s address in El Segundo, which also is the location of Lakers, Kings and Chargers practice facilities.

The Sparks, who posted a 21-23 record and fell two wins short of clinching a playoff spot this season, are addressing one of the biggest complaints about the franchise’s commitment to player development. The team most recently trained at El Camino College, where they had no permanent locker room or weight room. The franchise has rented various training locations throughout its history, making the new building a dramatic upgrade for the team.

The team provided the following renderings of the facility.

New research has shown the UK towns and villages that have been developing new housing, with the new build capital likely to surprise many as it’s a quiet UK village

A quaint UK village has been crowned as the ‘UK’s new build capital’, according to recent research.

The Labour Government had pledged in their election manifesto to construct 1.5 million new homes by 2029, a promise that is central to their housing policy.

So far, it’s estimated that the Government has managed to erect around 200,000 homes since taking office, falling short of the average annual target by 100,000. Despite this, New Housing Secretary Steve Reed remains hopeful about reaching their goal, stating last week his ambition was to “build baby build,” echoing Donald Trump’s oil drilling pledge.

READ MORE: Vibrant UK city is named the country’s ‘most affordable to live in’READ MORE: Martin Lewis explains the truth about leaving heating on low setting all day

Fresh research conducted by buy-to-let insurance specialists at Alan Boswell Group reveals the UK towns and villages leading the charge in new housing development, with the top spot likely to raise eyebrows.

Banwell, a charming village in Somerset, tops the list with 180 new build sales in 2023-24, offering some food for thought for the housing department as they strategise on delivering much-needed homes.

New builds made up over 65 per cent of all house sales in Banwell, the highest percentage across the UK, marking the village as a contemporary housing hotspot, reports the Express.

The town, which boasts a history dating back to the Bronze Age, has a modest population of just over 3,000 but witnessed 275 house transactions in the year 2023/24. Kent’s Swanscombe secured second place, with the compact town also witnessing a building surge.

Research experts behind the study explained: “Thanks to its proximity to London and lower property prices, Swanscombe offers a realistic alternative for those seeking a new build lifestyle near the capital without the hefty city price tag, making it ideal for both first-time buyers and landlords seeking rental demand near the commuter belt.”

The ancient, medieval settlement of Arundel claimed third spot, with 359 new builds sold out of 766 total transactions, representing a 46.87% new build share.

Speaking for the buy-to-let insurance specialists at Alan Boswell Group, Heath Alexander-Bew commented: “The UK’s housing demand remains intense, especially in large cities where new build construction often can’t keep up with population growth.

“However, this data clearly shows that regional development hotspots, even in smaller towns like Banwell or Swanscombe, are filling that gap.

“For buyers, especially families or first-time homeowners, these areas represent opportunities to secure modern, energy-efficient homes in growing communities.

“The proportion of buyers moving into detached homes has grown from 25% to 32% over the past decade, highlighting a steady shift in preference toward more spacious living. In our study, detached properties made up 13.87% of all new build sales between 2023 and 2025, underlining their continued appeal.”

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CHRONIC shortages of builders, plumbers and plasterers are making it ever harder to build the homes, schools and hospitals we need.

But today we publish a Government-backed list of construction apprenticeships to help YOU learn a trade, whatever your age or background.

5

It is part of The Sun on Sunday’s Builder Better Britain campaign, praised recently by Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson.

With thousands of young people out of work as shops and pubs stop hiring, the Government is pumping £100million into courses to help train the 12.8 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds currently not in education, employment or training – NEETs.

So now is the time to build YOUR career.

After we ran a similar pullout last year, scores applied for placements and the success stories included 18-year-old Brooke Knight.

She said: ‘It gives a skill for life, there are no college fees and you can earn thousands a week after tax.”

Check out our pullout for 110 jobs in all areas of the construction industry . . . 

TO APPLY GO TO gov.uk/apply-apprenticeship using company name and postcode

North West

Business Administrator Apprentice

Watson Construction Ltd

Motivated individual to join our small, supportive team to help us deliver a great service to our clients and their homeowners.

You will support the team with enquiries, admin tasks and aftercare, whilst learning on the job.

If you’re organised, friendly and ready to grow with a leader homebuilder we want to hear from you.

£18,000 a year.

Salford (M7 2ZS). Closes Sep 19, start Sep 29.

Apprentice Construction Maintenance Operative

Edward Anthony Ltd

Enthusiastic individual who wants to learn and train.

Role requires physical labour such as lifting, carrying materials, assisting set-up/close down of work areas, ability to take direction to ensure safe working standards, and ability to work as a team.

Role is predominantly a labouring position.

£11,778 for first year, then could rise depending on your age.

Birkenhead, Wirral (CH41 9AH).

Closes Sep 12, start Sep 15.

Building Materials Apprenticeship

Joseph Parr (Alco) Ltd

Designed for supply-chain warehouse operative who wants to be upskilled to understand and get involved in the entire distribution operation, including picking, loading, unloading, booking in, safety and recycling and virtual learning. £17,667 a year.

Manchester (M27 8SN).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 2.

Bench Joiner

A J & D Chapelhow (Cliburn) Ltd

Seeking a motivated, detail-oriented apprentice to join our team specialising in manufacture of high-quality timber windows and doors.

Will have a strong interest in woodworking, basic understanding of joinery tools and technique, and commitment to developing practical skills in a workshop environment.

£15,704 a year.

Penrith, Cumbria (CA10 3AL).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 2.

Apprentice Bricklayer

MSP Projects Ltd

Enthusiastic individual to join our growing team and learn from industry experts.

Work toward your Level 2 bricklayer apprenticeship qualification, in a close team.

Wage, £11,778 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Knutsford, Cheshire (WA16 8RW).

Closes Sep 23, start Sep 29.

Apprentice Landscaper

Ashbourne Garden and Property Maintenance

Motivated, hardworking apprentice to join our team.

Role involves cutting grass, trimming hedges, and weeding.

Candidate should have a passion for outdoor work, a keen eye for detail, and a desire to learn and grow in the landscaping industry.

£14,526.20 a year.

Stockport (SK7 6DW).

Closes Oct 1, start Oct 6.

Apprentice Landscape Gardener

Distinctive Gardens Ltd

Learn how to design, build and maintain outdoor spaces, combining practical skills with creative design to create gardens, driveways and landscaped areas.

£15,600 a year.

Lancaster (LA2 0RD).

Closes Sept 28, start Oct 13.

Business Administration Apprentice

Construction Resources

Specialist recruitment company within the built environment sector seeks a motivated, organised apprentice to support our team with a variety of administrative and operational tasks.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Liverpool (L22 0PJ).

Closes Sep 30, start Oct 4.

Apprentice Fenestration Installer (Level 2)

Everglaze Ltd

Installers here often work as part of small teams, on jobs for small shop owners, landlords, tenants and home owners, or on large-scale projects for developers.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Wigan (WN5 8QJ).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 15.

Business Administrator Apprentice

Watson Construction Ltd

Motivated individual to join our small, supportive team to help us deliver a great service to our clients and their homeowners.

Support the team with handling enquiries, admin tasks and aftercare – all while learning on the job.

If you’re an organised person, friendly and ready to grow with a leader homebuilder, we want to hear from you.

£18,000 a year.

Salford (M7 2ZS).

Closes Sep 19, start Sep 29.

Apprentice Stonemason

Bullen Conservation Ltd

Excellent opportunity for an apprentice with a conservation business specialising in heritage skills.

£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Oldham (OL1 3NN).

Closes Sep 21. Start to be determined.

B&Q Customer Advisor Apprenticeship

Bamber Bridge

Become an expert advisor, who gets to know each customer and their home-improvement project.

Sales is important, of course, as is managing stock, setting up displays and keeping a shop looking great.

£10,575 a year.

Preston (PR5 6BZ).

Closes Sept 2, start Sep 9.

Grounds & Garden Apprentice

Sedbergh School, Cumbria

The gardening team here provide pupils, staff and visitors with gardens commensurate with Sedbergh’s long- standing reputation as a leading independent school.

Tasks will vary daily, determined by the assistant grounds manager or head gardener and will include use of hand tools and light machinery to maintain the gardens.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Sedbergh (LA10 5HG).

Closes Sep 7, start Sep 22.

‘Opening for military vets and ex-offenders’

5

TO match the Government’s £100million for training courses, the National House Building Council is injecting the same.

They are looking to get more young people into construction, but also other groups including ex-military and people who have been in prison.

Roger Morton, Director of Business Change at the NHBC, said: “The industry needs more than 250,000 construction workers by 2028 to meet demand and build the 10,000 new homes we need. We need 2,500 brickies, 2,500 groundworkers and 1,000 carpenters and that’s why we’re investing £100million. We’re investing in 12 new NHBC multi-skilled training hubs across the country, to support 3,000 apprenticeships each year. We are targeting young people but also career changers, veterans, ex-offenders. We provide a unique, immersive facility where we can train people in 14 to 18 months, many with distinctions. That’s nearly twice as fast as traditional routes.

“We need to change perception so people see that being a trade is a great career. The average bricklayer earns £50,000, and they might progress to management, senior management, director. A colleague began as an apprentice and runs a 230-strong department.”

North East

Groundworker Apprentice

WL Straughan & Son

Seeking a keen, willing-to-learn apprentice to learn all aspects of the trade.

£15,311.40 a year.

Bedlington Lane Farm, Northumberland (NE22 6AA).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 15.

Property Maintenance Apprentice

Simpson & Hill Construction Ltd

Be part of a well-established and highly recommended building company based in Stokesley, North Yorks that covers all aspects of construction throughout Co Durham & North Yorks.

Looking for an apprentice to a busy team.

£15,311.40 a year.

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Machining/Tool Room Apprentice

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Ltd

Earn as you learn with this major employer.

Training is underpinned by practical experience.

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

North Shields, Tyne and Wear (NE27 0QH).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 22.

Apprentice Joiner

Andy Dunbar Joinery

Work for a premium company, experts in bespoke design and manufacture of handmade architectural joinery.

Looking for an apprentice to join a busy team.

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Middlesbrough (TS2 1DY).

Closes Sep 8, start Sep 15.

Conventional Machining Apprentice

Clifton Engineering (NE) Ltd

Fantastic opportunity for a manual machining apprentice to join this fantastic team based in Morpeth, and earn while you learn.

Your training will be underpinned with practical experience which will prepare you for an exciting career.

Wage, £14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Northumberland (NE61 6JN).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 13.

Signage Apprentice Technician

Alan Rowe Signs and Graphics

Offering a route into a potential full-time career within a family-run business.

We specialise in creating signs and custom graphics for vehicles, with over 40 years’ experience.

Offering the opportunity to work in a hands-on role within the business and achieve a qualification in the process.

£17,550 a year.

Tyne and Wear (NE6 4QL).

Closes Sep 12, Start Sep 15.

Groundwork Apprentice

Meldrum Group

Northern Skills are recruiting for Meldrum Group.

This will allow you to gain on-the-job experience while studying toward a Level 2 property maintenance apprenticeship qualification.

£15,311.40 a year.

Stockton-on-Tees (TS18 3TX).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 9.

Apprentice Design & Development Engineer

Elfab Ltd

Learn and develop skills within a range of engineering, technical and design expertise.

Duties include concept feasibility, design, development, launch and production.

Additional activities include rapid prototyping, assembly, testing, validating and performance analysis.

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

North Shields, Tyne and Wear (NE29 8SD).

Closes Sep 13, start Sep 22.

Administrative Apprentice

In Charge Construction Ltd

Northern Skills are recruiting on behalf of In Charge Construction Limited who are looking for a motivated candidate to join their team.

Learn the role of a business administrator while also gaining a qualification.

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Darlington (DL1 4FA).

Closes Sep 29, start Oct 6.

Wood Product Manufacturing Apprentice

Balmoral Joinery

Passionate about working with your hands to create quality wood products?

Join our Wood Product Manufacturing Apprenticeship at Balmoral Joinery and gain experience in a dynamic environment.

Grow your skills, master your craft, and become part of a team that values tradition, precision and innovation.

£15,311.40 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Swalwell, Tyne and Wear (NE16 3AD).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 15.

Welder Fabricator Apprentice

Shell Engineering

Work with metals including steel and aluminium, learning welding, fabrication and use of precision tools.

£14,918.80 a year.

Chester-le-Street, Co Durham (DH2 1AJ).

Closes Sep 6, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Welder/Fabricator

Bulkhaul Ltd

Looking for an enthusiastic, reliable, punctual candidate, ideally in their second year of college.

This role requires a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and to be able to follow safety protocols.

There is the opportunity of a full-time role upon completion, pending a review of progress/performance while on the apprenticeship.

£17,680 a year.

Middlesbrough (TS2 1PS).

Closes Sep 3, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Welding and Workshop Technician

Aliweld Ltd

Be responsible for supporting fabrication and assembly of aluminium tipper and waggon bodies under the supervision of experienced welders.

Ideal for someone with a keen interest in engineering, a strong work ethic and desire to learn and grow in a skilled trade.

£17,926.96 a year.

Newcastle upon Tyne (NE40 3DG). Closes Sep 2, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Sheet Metal Worker

Boyd Ductwork Ltd

Learn from sheet-metal workers and fabricators, and about how to read drawings, select steel and prepare materials for ductwork projects.

Given the start times, this would suit a local candidate or one with access to their own transport.

£14,918.80 a year.

Blaydon on Tyne (NE21 5SD). Closes Sep 12, start Sep 16.

Business Administration Apprentice

In Charge Construction Ltd

A great opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to join a busy office team.

The apprentice will help with a broad range of administrative tasks covering many aspects of the business.

£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Darlington (DL1 4FA).

Closes Sep 12, start Oct 1.

‘I love to learn and earn’

5

SHE is sleight of figure, so many think Tegan Pryor is joking when she tells them she’s a builder.

But having ditched a leisure-centre job to study bricklaying at college, the hard grafter is now backing our Build A Better Britain campaign to urge more young people to take up a trade.

Tegan, 23, from Shefford, Beds, said: “I started training as a bricklayer three years ago and honestly, I’ve never looked back.

“It is 100 per cent the right career for me. I was a lifeguard and receptionist at a leisure centre before but there wasn’t much career opportunity, it felt like a dead end.

“Now, I get to work outdoors and have a laugh with my colleagues – and I’m not treated any differently because I’m a woman.

“There is respect, and I learn something new every day.

“I’m on about £130 a day for an eight-and-a-half hour shift and some days it’s hard, but it’s also satisfying when you look back on what you achieved.

“The average wage for a bricklayer is about £50,000 a year and that’s what I’m heading towards.”

Yorkshire & The Humber

Apprentice Construction Quantity Surveyor

Sum ADR Limited

Join this independent consultancy adjudication/Q/S firm.

Role combines on-the-job training with structured learning to gain job-specific skills.

Earn a wage and receive holiday pay, while working alongside experienced staff and dedicating time to relevant study.

£15,704 to £25,396.80 a year.

Wetherby, West Yorks (LS23 6FJ). Closes Sep 11, start Oct 30.

Apprentice Assistant Site (Level 3) Manager

Greenchurch Developments

Apprenticeship agency EN:Able Futures has teamed up with Greenchurch Developments to offer this exciting opportunity.

If you want to work with a company that values quality, whilst gaining a nationally recognised qualification, apply today.

£15,704 a year.

Doncaster (DN6 8QA).

Closes Sep 11, start Sep 15.

Building Services Design Engineer Apprentice

Hoare Lea LLP

Collaborate with the industry’s best, working with a wide range of specialists.

Be part of progressive and exciting projects, able to experience innovative schemes across all sectors.

Advance your career, your way, thanks to our structured career paths framework.

Wage £24,250 a year. Leeds (LS2 8LY). Closes Oct 31, start Jan 3.

Apprentice Construction Site Supervisor

Greenchurch Developments

Apprenticeship agency EN:Able Futures has partnered with Greenchurch Developments to offer this opportunity to work for their company.

If you are wanting to work with a company that values quality, whilst working towards a nationally recognised qualification. £16,881.80 a year.

Doncaster (DN6 8QA).

Closes Sep 11, start Sep 15.

Construction Management Apprenticeship

Lovell Regen

Partnered with Lovell Regen, EN:Able Futures is offering an exciting opportunity to earn while you learn, whilst working toward a Level 3 construction support technician qualification.

£15,410 a year.

Doncaster (DN6 8QA).

Closes Sep 4, start Sep 8.

Business Administration Apprentice

Dutton FM

Exciting opportunity to work for Dutton Group, specifically facility managers Dutton FM, as a business administrator within a small team, friendly team.

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Wakefield, West Yorks (WF1 2ED).

Closes Sep 6, start Sep 8.

Engineering Fitter Apprentice

Trivent

Long-standing manufacturer of kitchen ventilation systems is looking for the newest engineering talent to join its operation in Leeds.

This apprenticeship leads you to become a skilled engineer within the company’s mechanical fitting department.

Candidates must be 18-plus, due to the nature of work.

£14,918.80 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Leeds (LS11 0EF).

Closes Sep 2, start Sep 8.

Apprentice Assistant Site Manager (Level 3)

Huber Parking

Apprenticeship agency EN:Able Futures are partnering with Huber Parking to look for an apprentice manager to join their busy team.

Working on the Calderdale Royal Hospital site, you will learn everything to get you through your nationally recognised qualification. £16,588 a year.

Halifax, West Yorks (HX3 0PW).

Closes Sep 11, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Construction Site Supervisor

GS Kelsey Construction

Apprenticeship employer EN:Able Futures are partnering with GS Kelsey to support the delivery of new-build housing.

Fantastic opportunity for an apprentice to become part of a growing team.

£16,784 a year.

Rotherham, South Yorks (S66 8DW).

Closes Sep 26, start Sep 29.

‘You can make £300 a day’

5

HE was toying with going to university but the prospect of three more years’ book study, and the debt, swung Lucas Robinson to learn a trade.

Lucas, 25, from Nottingham, did a two-and-a-half year bricklaying course at Derby College, while working on sites for his employer at £170 a week.

He said of bricklaying: “I’ve been doing this for four years and the company I work for is all over the country. Bricklaying is what you make of it. You can start at 8am, finish at 3pm and make £300 a day, depending on the deal. I’ve been doing ‘price bricklaying’ for a while, paid 65p a brick and about £150 a day, but I hear you can make £1 a brick in London.

“Eight hours is a long day carrying bricks and it can be stressful when things are not going right, but I love my job. My dad’s a bricklayer too.

“My mum wanted to push me down the uni route, but I decided on a different path and I’m so happy.

“Looking at a house and thinking, I built that and people are going to live in it, it’s a good feeling.”

East Midlands

Estimator

FP McCann

Undertake the tasks involved within the estimating process, from measuring and doing take-offs, to producing quotations for external customers.

An estimator creates quotations based on drawings, listing products and costs for customer orders.

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50, depending on your age.

Derbyshire (DE6 4PH).

Closes Sep 10, start Sep 30.

Apprentice Fabricator/Welder Metal Fabricator

James Engineering

We pride ourselves on family values – the company was founded by the grandfather of the current owner.

Our mission is simple: to provide high-quality services without compromising on quality.

We are seeking an apprentice fabricator/welder to join our team.

Learn all aspects of steel- welding including MIG, TIG and MMA.

Wage £17,238 a year.

Alfreton (DE55 7JR).

Closes Sep 12, start Sep 15.

Maintenance Apprentice Engineer

Gordon Ellis & Co

Opportunity for an enthusiastic apprentice to join our maintenance team.

The successful candidate will work alongside our skilled maintenance engineers to develop a broad range of practical engineering skills.

£17,550 a year.

Derby (DE74 2PY).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 2.

Warehouse Operative Apprentice

International Abrasives Ltd

Join our growing business where hard work is recognised and development encouraged.

Pick, pack and ship orders, unload and restock deliveries, keep the warehouse organised and support stock control.

A strong work ethic is essential.

£14,133.60 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Leicester (LE9 6TJ).

Closes Sep 16, start Sep 22.

Apprentice Estimator

James Engineering Constructions Ltd

Opportunity to join this family business.

You will be part of the estimating team, working in a busy office, supporting the supervisor and sales director.

£17,162.60 a year.

Alfreton (DE55 7JR).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Apprentice Cabinet Maker

Alias Industries Ltd

Enrol on a furniture- manufacturing apprenticeship with Leicester College.

You will be trained as a cabinet maker/bench joiner, working in a modern workshop environment to produce high-end, bespoke furniture and displays for domestic and retail sectors.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase.

Peckleton, Leicester (LE9 7RN).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 8.

Hardware Engineer Apprentice

Brick Ltd

You will help construction colleagues to get the most value from their tech tools, rectifying any faults and providing advice about a wide range of hardware and related software.

We are looking for someone who has great hardware knowledge as well as impressive customer service skills.

£20,000 a year. Leicestershire (LE67 6HS).

Closes Sep 23, start Oct 1.

Health, Safety and Environment Apprentice

Mecc Alte (UK) Ltd

Exciting opportunity for a motivated apprentice to work within our Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (GHSE) department to help ensure that compliance measures are adhered to within the company.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Oakham, East Mids (LE15 6RF).

Closes Sep 5, start Oct 1.

Machinist – Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Apprentice

Metrol Springs Ltd

Full-time employment, with day-release training, offering a competitive salary and 21 days’ paid holiday as well as bank holidays.

Based in Northampton, Metrol Springs is the UK’s largest manufacturer of gas springs.

Metrol is part of the PLC Lesjofors Group.

Our group includes almost 40 manufacturing and sales companies in many countries.

£19,760 a year.

Northampton (NN3 6QF).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 8.

Apprentice Construction Site Supervisor

GS Kelsey Construction

Apprenticeship employer EN:Able Futures is partnering with GS Kelsey Construction to support delivery of new-build housing.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an apprentice to become part of a dynamic and growing team.

£16,784 a year.

Scunthorpe, Lincs (DN16 2HF).

Closes Sep 26, start Sep 29.

‘I’m problem solving daily’

5

DILIGENT Dan Smoker has been a builder for 18 years and reckons the trade is going from strength to strength so there’s good money to be made for those with the right skills.

Dan, 34, from Epsom, Surrey, said: “I did bricklaying at college and after that went into being a multi-trader.

“Now I run my own company and business is good. If someone needs a new kitchen or bathroom, they call me.

“I work on word-of-mouth so don’t have to advertise, and my niche is the maintenance side of things. It’s been a fantastic career for me because you rarely work for the same person and you’re dealing with a range of issues and problems.

“You are problem-solving every day and the bit I like is when you do the work, stand back and see the customer is happy. You feel really proud of what you’ve done. It’s a feeling of immense satisfaction.

“You’ve got to turn up, want to learn the craft then do it properly, and it will come – all the trades are on the up right now.”

West Midlands

Apprentice Joiner Carpenter (Level 2)

Middleton Traditional Joinery Ltd

Looking to recruit a motivated apprentice to support our growing business needs.

Your role will allow you to gain hands-on experience working alongside skilled professionals, learning the craft of carpentry and the processes involved in producing precision-manufactured components.

We are seeking someone who takes pride in their work.

£15,704 a year. West Coppice Road,

Walsall (WS8 7HB).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 8.

Plumbing & Heating Apprentice (Level 3)

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

A great opportunity to work alongside our existing Trades staff, getting hand-on experience and travelling across Sandwell.

You will be trained in all aspects of plumbing and domestic heating work, such as installing bathrooms and kitchens, replacing pipework and fixing leaks and repairs – all whilst undertaking a Level 3 qualification.

Wage £14,526.20 a year.

Oldbury (B69 3ES).

Closes Sep 12, start Nov 3.

Apprentice Construction Site Supervisor

GS Kelsey Construction

Partnering with award-winning apprenticeship employer EN:Able Futures, this new-build housing provider is offering a fantastic opportunity for you to become part of their growing team.

£16,784 a year.

Gainsborough, Lincs (DN21 1SJ).

Closes Sep 26, start Sep 29.

Apprentice Grounds Maintenance Operative

Brass Facilities

Seeking an apprentice to join our hardworking mobile gardening department that works on our various contracts in the Midlands Area.

The successful candidate will be cutting grass and hedges and dealing with maintenance duties.

£16,640 a year.

Wednesbury (WS10 0PD).

Closes Sep 5, start date Sep 8.

Bricklayer Apprentice (Level 2)

All Britain Construction Ltd

Join a driven construction team with an impressive client portfolio.

This is a full-time position, in an environment that will allow the right person to unlock their potential.

If you have the right attitude – either with the experience or determination to learn how to perform and grow with a winning team – then this is the role for you.

£15,704 a year.

Worcester (WR5 2PT).

Closes tomorrow, start Oct 1.

Apprentice Production Technician.

Narros Aisle Ltd

Looking for an apprentice to work as part of a skilled team, in a dynamic and growing company.

Narros Aisle Ltd are recruiting for our team at our production facility in the West Midlands.

You will play a crucial role within the production unit, ensuring that products meet our high-quality standards.

The role will involve you in learning about assembly, maintenance and repair of our forklift trucks.

£15,311.40 a year.

Tipton (DY4 7AU).

Closes Sep 4, start Sep 18.

Apprentice Carpenter

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside our existing trades staff, getting hands-on carpentry experience while travelling across the Sandwell Borough.

You will be trained in all aspects of carpentry work while undertaking a Level 2 apprenticeship qualification.

£14,526.20 a year.

Oldbury (B69 3ES).

Closes Sep 12, start Nov 3.

Apprentice Painter & Decorator (Level 2)

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Great opportunity to work alongside our existing trades staff, getting hands-on experience and travelling across the Sandwell borough.

You will be trained in all aspects of painting and decorating, whilst undertaking a Level 2 qualification.

Wage £14,526.20 a year.

Oldbury (B69 3ES).

Closes Sep 12, start Nov 3.

Engineering and Manufacturing Support Technician Apprentice (Level 3)

Hadley Group

Looking for a metal-forming manufacturing technician apprentice to gain the knowledge and competence required to effectively operate at semi-skilled or skilled operator status.

You will carry out a range of engineering and manufacturing processes within the cold-rolling environment.

£15,743 a year.

West Midlands (B66 2PA).

Closes Sep 2, start Sep 15.

Production Operative Apprentice

Frederick Cooper

Looking for someone excited to start their successful career in the manufacturing sector, with opportunity to specialise in several different roles including wet-paint spraying, powder-coating, polishing, business administration and more.

£15,392 a year.

Birmingham (B9 4TS).

Closes Sep 8, start Sep 29.

Landscaping Apprentice

Flagstone and Flora Ltd

Experience all aspects of landscaping, including laying slabs, setting levels and installing decking.

Learn about paving, fencing, and woodwork, and brick and block work to build retaining walls, garden walls and raised beds.

£15,704 for the first year, then could increase depending on age.

Evesham, Worcs (WR11 8PR).

Closes Sep 2, start Sep 9.

East of England

Apprentice Electrical Draughtsman

Nordson Test & Inspection

The company has a strong portfolio of award-winning products for destructive and non-destructive mechanical testing, as well as the inspection of electronic components.

If you are keen on building your knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering, then join our research and development team in Colchester and experience product innovation first hand.

£14,820.65 to £23,968.23 a year.

Essex (CO4 9AS).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 8.

Apprentice Fitter (Level 3)

DXB Pump & Power Ltd

We are a leading pump-manufacturing company focusing on their customers.

Our main objective is to design and manufacture high-quality pump sets that offer outstanding reliability.

We have a reputation for exceptional customer service, backed by a large selection of quality pump products.

£19,500 a year.

Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk (IP30 9HR).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Sheet Metal Worker

Fine Line Sheet Metal Engineering Ltd

Start your career with a well-established sheet-metal engineering company.

As an apprentice, you’ll receive hands-on training, develop a wide range of practical skills, and gain a solid understanding of the industry.

With guidance from experienced professionals, you’ll build the foundations for a rewarding and long-term career in engineering.

£15,704 to £25,396.80 a year.

Essex (CM7 2YN).

Closes Sep 3, start Sep 4.

Multi-Skilled Engineering Apprentice

Trivium Packaging

Swarm Group is working with Trivium Packaging in their search for a Level 3 maintenance and operations engineering technician apprentice.

This is an excellent opportunity to work within a robust work environment and gain valuable skills to become a multi-skilled engineer.

£20,000 a year.

Norwich (NR7 9AZ).

Closes Sep 10, start Sep 15.

Apprenticeship in CNC Machining (four years)

NE Engineering

Fast-growing manufacturing facility that offers the ideal environment for candidates to learn the required skills in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) manufacturing.

The successful candidate will be trained to set, operate and programme the latest technology.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone to get into engineering.

Competitive wage.

Norwich (NR13 6LJ).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 8.

Engineering Technician Apprenticeship (Level 3)

TML Precision Engineering Ltd

You will become integral to an already established team, and be exposed to all areas of the business to grow and develop knowledge and expertise.

£15,311.40 to £24,761.88, depending on your age.

Hethel, Norfolk (NR14 8QR). Closes Sep 12, start Jan 1.

Apprentice Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician

SA Tooley Ltd

Shadowing/assisting qualified engineers, to develop your skills and knowledge in all aspects of the plumbing and domestic heating work carried out by the company.

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age.

Scratby, Norfolk (NR29 3LW).

Closes Sep 12, start Jan 1.

Estimating Apprentice

Loughton Contracts PLC

Seeking a motivated and detail-orientated individual to support our fit-out estimating and sales team in preparing accurate, cost-effective bids for commercial flooring projects.

This is an exciting entry-level opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, high-performing environment, working within the construction industry.

£15,500 a year.

Loughton, Essex (IG10 3FL).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Plasterer

Training and Apprenticeships in Construction Ltd.

This is a full plastering course, not just skimming.

The apprentice will be learning the following: mixing techniques, material- estimation handling and stick-management, defect repair, floating and beading techniques, rendering, base-coat application and scratch coats, dry-lining, jointing, levelling compounds, screeds and much more.

£14,526.20 to £23,492.04, depending on your age.

King’s Lynn, Norfolk (PE34 3AH).

Closes Sep 30, start Oct 1.

Apprentice Construction Landscaper

Training and Apprenticeships in Construction Ltd.

If you love the outdoors and are interested in developing hands-on skills in landscaping, then this Essex-based business, in Chelmsford, is looking to recruit enthusiastic individuals to be part of their team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn about a trade while also gaining hands-on, practical experience in the construction industry.

£17,667 for your first year, and then could increase depending on your age.

Closes Sep 30, start October 5.

Apprentice Carpenter and Joiner

Training & Apprenticeships in Construction Ltd.

Successful apprentice candidates will join our first fix joinery team in putting together our proprietary timber frame.

This frame has been developed by our design team over a number of years and forms a key component of our house types.

£17,680 a year.

Epping, Essex (CM16 6LT).

Closes Sep 30, start Oct 1.

Fencing Installer Apprentice

Training & Apprenticeships in Construction Ltd

Looking for motivated individuals to gain hands-on, practical experience and build toward a career within a growing and dynamic field.

£17,667 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Essex (CM1 3AA).

Closes Sep 30, start Oct 1.

London & The South East

Apprenticeship

Brenbar Electrical Services Ltd

Seeking an enthusiastic Level 4 quantity surveyor apprentice to join our team, supporting the quantity surveying team through various stages of a project.

£11,778 to £19,047.60, depending on your age.

Romford (RM3 8UR).

Closes Sep 10, start Sep 15.

Site Supervisor Apprentice

Brenbar Electrical Services Ltd

Looking for a motivated and hardworking individual to join our team as a construction site supervisor apprentice, to assist the site manager with daily tasks.

Wage £11,778 to £19,047.60, depending on your age.

Romford (RM3 8UR).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Bricklaying Apprenticeship (Level 2)

Roberts Brothers Construction Ltd

Our bricklayers lay bricks, blocks and other types of building components in mortar to construct and repair walls, foundations, partitions, arches and other structures.

£14,722.50 to £23,809.50 a year.

Reading (RG31 6HF).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 2.

Groundworks Apprenticeship (Level 2)

Kilnbridge Construction Services Ltd

Opportunity to lay the foundations of a career within construction, as part of a recognised company working on showpiece jobs such as London’s Canary Wharf.

As an apprentice, you will be on a development plan, and a career mentor will help your progression throughout your apprenticeship.

We offer a competitive salary, 20 days’ annual leave and more.

CSCS card required. £31,000 a year. London (NW10 6DZ).

Closes Sep 5, start Nov 10.

Formworker Apprenticeship

Kilnbridge Construction Services Ltd

Opportunity to start a career within construction, with a recognised company working on prestige jobs such as London’s Canary Wharf.

As an apprentice, you will be on a development plan and a career mentor will support your progression.

We offer a competitive salary, 20 days’ annual leave and more. CSCS card required. £31,000 a year.

London (NW10 6DZ).

Closes Sep 5, start Oct 5.

Apprentice Quantity Surveyor

Byoot Construction Ltd

Great opportunity to join our team. £16,672.50 a year.

London (W3 0TE).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Associate Project Manager

Apprentice Byoot Construction Ltd

Learn the ropes of project management, including site programs, progress reports, site inspections, cost reporting, tender analysis and monthly valuations.

£22,500 a year.

London (W3 0TE).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Construction Site Supervisor Apprentice

Byoot Construction Ltd

A great opportunity in the construction industry, to play an integral role within a dynamic team at Byroot.

£21,000 a year.

London (W3 0TE).

Closes Sep 8, start Sep 15.

Quantity Surveyor Apprentice

Trinity Surfacing Ltd

Seeking a motivated and detail-orientated apprentice who will be part of our commercial team.

Role offers hands-on, practical experience working in the areas of cost management, contract administration, and project delivery, while also studying towards achieving a recognised qualification in quantity surveying or construction management.

£22,000 a year.

Rochester, Kent (ME3 9ND).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Apprentice Business Administrator

Sunninghill Construction Co Ltd

Exciting opportunity for an apprentice to develop foundation knowledge as an apprentice, by providing administrative support to a leading marketing and business development team, whilst also studying for a business administrator Level 3 apprenticeship qualification.

£14,133.60 a year.

Haywards Heath, West Sussex (RH16 1BP).

Closes Sep 22, start date Oct 26.

Apprentice Construction Site Supervisor

Kori Construction

Award-winning contractor, and one of the fastest-growing construction companies in the UK, is offering an exciting opportunity for an apprentice to work on our Hampton project in Kingston upon Thames, South West London.

£28,812 a year.

Hampton, South West London (TW12 2AX).

Closes Sep 8, start Sep 22.

Construction Apprentice

Kori Construction

You will be working with a strong team of highly knowledgeable individuals to develop your skill set and progress your career.

In exchange for your hard work and commitment, we will provide you with a competitive salary and support you with a top-quality apprenticeship training programme.

£21,000 a year.

Hampton, South West London (TW12 2AX).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Apprentice Landscaper

Bobby Brown Garden Construction Ltd

We are a small, high-end local business.

With increased demand, we are excited to provide a valuable opportunity for a young person to learn, develop skills and build a rewarding career with us.

Working typically within Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, specifically around Thame and Chinnor.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Aylesbury, Bucks (HP17 8QZ).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Construction Materials Technician

BAM Construct UK

Learn all about construction materials testing – no experience needed, just a great work ethic and willingness to get stuck in.

You’ll split your time between site and lab, working on the HS2 Project – the UK’s biggest-ever rail infrastructure development, stretching from London to the North West.

£20,000 a year.

Aylesbury, Bucks (HP18 0BX).

Closes Sep 5, start Sep 8.

South West

Bricklaying Apprenticeship (Level 2)

Liam Quick Construction Ltd

You will be working alongside other builders so will also pick up experience in other home-improvement activities.

£15,704 a year.

Plymouth (PL3 5SF).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 15

Carpentry Apprenticeship – Carpentry and Joinery (Level 2)

AC Construction and Carpentry Ltd

Looking for a hard-working, reliable and passionate apprentice to join an experienced team in and around Plymouth.

We are a very experienced company that has taken on many apprentices throughout the years.

We work to teach them new skills and develop the ones they already have.

£15,704 a year.

Langage Business Park, Plympton, Devon (PL7 5BG).

Closes tomorrow, start Sep 15.

Plumbing and Domestic Heating Technician Apprenticeship (Level 3)

Pathfinder Park Homes Ltd

Work under the direction and guidance of a team leader to assist in installing all aspects of plumbing and heating into new-build luxury lodges, whilst upholding safety guidelines and complying with codes and regulations.

You will be required to undertake work throughout the site.

£15,311.40 a year.

Devon (TQ12 6FJ).

Closes Sep 10, start Sep 20.

Customer Advisor

Apprenticeship B&Q – Torquay

Join our team, and you’ll become an expert advisor – an inspiration as well as a guide, the person who gets to know every customer and their home improvement projects.

Sales will be important, of course, as will things such as managing stock, setting up displays, and making sure your store looks great at all times.

£11,897 a year.

Woodland Business Park, Torquay (TQ2 8AS).

Closes Sep 18, start Sep 25.

Maintenance Apprentice (Level 2)

Rowcroft House Foundation Ltd

Our Vision is to make every day the best day possible for our patients and their families in South Devon.

Working as part of a small estates team, you will help deliver our vision by participating in the maintenance of the fabric and structure of all the hospice buildings, as well as contributing to various ongoing grounds maintenance work.

£14,918.80 a year.

Torquay (TQ2 5LS).

Closes Sep 3, start Sep 15.

Bricklaying Apprenticeship (Level 2)

JMP Bricklaying & Building Services Ltd

Looking for an apprentice to join their team in Saltash, Cornwall.

Main duties will include applying and sealing foundations with materials that are damp- resistant, spreading and removing excess mortar, inspecting vertical and horizontal brick alignment.

£15,704 a year.

Buckfastleigh, Devon (TQ11 0LL).

Closes Oct 31, start Nov 3.

Apprentice Bricklayer

Crestmoor Construction

Seeks an energetic apprentice to join its construction team.

Projects include bridges, retaining walls, commercial builds, and domestic works.

You’ll learn from experienced professionals and gain valuable skills to build a lasting career in the construction and civil- engineering industry.

£15,704 a year.

Wincanton, Somerset (BA9 8AP).

Closes Sep 3, start Sep 10.

Business Administration Apprentice

Planning Inspectorate

Whether you’re starting your first job, returning to work, or seeking a fresh challenge, our Level 3 apprenticeship offers hands-on experience, with support from City of Bristol College, and a welcoming team at the Planning Inspectorate.

£22,728 a year.

Bristol (BS1 6PN).

Closes Sep 7, start date Nov 3.

Roofing Apprenticeship

Heritage Building & Roofing Ltd

Learn to install, repair and maintain slate and tile roofs while working safely at height.

Earn as you learn, gain hands-on experience, and build skills for a career in a high-demand trade with excellent progression and opportunities for self-employment.

£15,704 a year.

Bristol (BS1 5AR) and two other locations.

Closes Sep 19, start Sep 25.

Drylining Apprenticeship

Lumini Developments Ltd

Learn to install partition walls, ceilings, and interior fittings to a high standard.

Gain hands-on experience, work with a skilled team, and start a career in a growing trade with strong demand and excellent progression opportunities.

Wage £15,704 a year. Bristol (BS3 1HT) and two other locations.

Closes Sep 19, start Sep 25.

Apprentice Groundworker

C&R Construction

Learn to prepare sites, dig foundations, lay drainage and handle materials safely.

Gain hands-on experience, work as part of a skilled team and build a career in a high-demand trade with progression opportunities.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Crediton, Devon (EX17 6AX).

Closes Sep 19, start Sep 25.

Apprentice Roofer

Deelis Roofing Ltd

You will learn about how to install, repair and maintain slate and tile roofs while working safely at height.

Earn while you learn, gain hands-on experience, and build skills for a career in a high-demand trade that offers excellent career progression opportunities.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Taunton, Somerset (TA1 5NF).

Closes Sep 19, start Sep 25.

Apprentice Quantity Surveyor

CoTrain

This apprenticeship is a springboard for anyone wishing to progress into construction quantity surveying.

Assisting senior managers with the budgeting of construction projects, as well as control of costs.

£15,311.40 to £24,761.88, depending on your age.

Gosport (PO12 2HE).

Closes Sep 4, star Sep 15.

Apprentice Groundworker

Morcom Construction Ltd

Morcom are offering an exciting opportunity to join their dynamic team as an apprentice Gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours to kick-start your career as a groundworker.

£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

Sites across Cornwall. (TR15 3RD).

Closes Sep 12, start Sep 15.

Apprentice Roofer

Greenlight Group

Established in 2009, Greenlight Group has been in operation for more than 15 years, supplying safety consultancy and safety assessment services to an ever-growing roster of clients.

Your apprenticeship would be based in Bristol, and you should apply for this role if you are interested in a long-term career as a roofing specialist.

£13,741 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age.

(BS3 2EB)

Closes Sep 19, start Sep 25.

Wales

Apprentice Electrical Engineer

Kaisaian Electrical Ltd

Work for a company offering a range of services from electrical installations and maintenance (reactive and planned), electrical inspection and condition reports (EICR), to fire and emergency lighting installation and maintenance, UPS and generator installation, thermo-graphic surveys and lightning and surge protection.

Pay will be at apprenticeship rates.

Cardiff.

Closes Sep 15, possible start Sep 22.

Apprentice Electrical Engineer

Jones & Jones Electrical

Work for a company offering a range of services from electrical installations and maintenance (reactive & planned) electrical inspection and condition reports (EICR), to fire and emergency lighting installation and maintenance, UPS and generator installation, thermographic surveys, and lightning and surge protection.

Pay is at apprenticeship rates.

Trebanos, Neath Port Talbot (SA8 4DW).

Closes Sep 15, start Sep 22.

Apprentice Electrical Engineer

Oasis Software Solutions (OSS)

Work for a company offering a range of services from electrical installations, electrical maintenance (reactive and planned), electrical inspection and condition reports (EICR), to fire and emergency lighting installation and maintenance, UPS and generator installation, thermographic surveys and lightning and surge protection.

Wage, apprenticeship rates.

Cwmbach, Rhondda CF44 0AE.

Closes Sep 8, possible start Sep 22.

Refrigeration Engineer Trainee

UK Refrigeration Services Ltd

Work involves the installation of mechanical services to sites and supermarkets.

Pay is national minimum wage.

Swansea, SA6 8QW.

Closes Dec 1, possible start Dec 2.

Scaffolding Apprentice

MAC Scaffolding (Cardiff) Ltd

Join one of the largest and most trusted independent scaffolding companies in Wales.

For 40 years, MAC Scaffolding has been a leading supplier of access scaffolding solutions across the UK.

Career-path progression from Part One trainee to Part Two scaffolder and advanced scaffolder.

You will be working on projects of varying sizes and complexities.

Wage, national minimum wage.

Cardiff (CF11 8TY).

Closes Sep 30, possible start Oct 10.

Scotland

Freight Logistics Apprentice

Microcom Training

We are expanding our team and have created a junior role suited to a recent school or college leaver.

This is an Apprentice Warehouse Operative role where you will be trained to pick computer generated orders and maintain high levels of health and safety; working across different areas of the business to enhance your knowledge and skills whilst providing excellent customer service and operating within a safe working environment, ensuring complete legal compliance.

£14,723 per year.

Newbridge, near Edinburgh (EH28 8LQ).

Closes Sep 19, start date to be determined.

Warehousing and Trade Counter Apprentice

Microcom Training

We are a well-known and established Builders Merchants.

We are growing our team and have an opportunity to recruit an apprentice to support our warehouse and counter staff.

Work involves receiving and checking in of goods, checking and loading a delivery van, putting goods into stock and generally keeping the store tidy, recording stock, recording missing/damaged items, counter service at peak times, laying out customer orders, and keeping an eye on stock levels. £14,134 per year.

Dalry, North Ayrs (KA24 5DZ).

Closes Sep 19, start to be determined.

Health, Safety and Environmental

Apprentice/Trainee

JB Management Ltd

Gain hands-on experience in creating a safe, compliant and proactive workplace.

You’ll be involved in risk assessments, safety checks and incident investigations, while learning from experienced professionals in a fast-paced industry.

Perfect for someone with a keen eye for detail, strong communication skills, and a passion for safety.

£20,800 to £25,397 per year.

Kilmarnock, East Ayrs (KA12 8AS).

Closes Sep 2, start to be determined.

Apprentice Panel Technician

FMG Repair Services

Earn while you learn with an apprenticeship that will see you work full-time in a garage workshop and gain a SCQF in vehicle body repair.

In this role, you will be trained to repair vehicle damage to an exacting standard.

£15,311 to £16,224 a year.

Dundee (DD5 3RU).

Closes Sep 19, start immediate.

Service Engineer Apprentice

JWF Process Solutions Ltd

During this apprenticeship you will attend college part-time, while also gaining experience from working closely with experienced engineers.

You will undertake calibration, servicing, testing, maintenance and repair work covering a wide range of instrumentation equipment.

£13,800 to £15,800 per year.

Glasgow (G41 1HJ).

Closes Sep 30, start to be determined.

Light Vehicle Mechanic

Armit’s Autos

Work toward achieving a Level 7 Scottish Vocational Qualification in vehicle maintenance and repair.

Learn the skills you need to be a fully qualified light vehicle diagnostic technician.

£15,312.

Broxburn, near Edinburgh (EH52 5NN).

Closes Sep 12, start to be determined.

WASHINGTON — When President Trump’s administration last month awarded a contract worth up to $1.2 billion to build and operate what it says will become the nation’s largest immigration detention complex, it didn’t turn to a large government contractor or even a firm that specializes in private prisons.

Instead, it handed the project on a military base to Acquisition Logistics LLC, a small business that has no listed experience running a correction facility and had never won a federal contract worth more than $16 million. The company also lacks a functioning website and lists as its address a modest home in suburban Virginia owned by a 77-year-old retired Navy flight officer.

The mystery over the award only deepened last week as the new facility began to accept its first detainees. The Pentagon has refused to release the contract or explain why it selected Acquisition Logistics over a dozen other bidders to build the massive tent camp at Fort Bliss in west Texas. At least one competitor has filed a complaint.

The secretive — and brisk — contracting process is emblematic, experts said, of the government’s broader rush to fulfill the Republican president’s pledge to arrest and deport an estimated 10 million migrants living in the U.S. without permanent legal status. As part of that push, the government is turning increasingly to the military to handle tasks that had traditionally been left to civilian agencies.

A member of Congress who recently toured the camp said she was concerned that such a small and inexperienced firm had been entrusted to build and run a facility expected to house up to 5,000 migrants.

“It’s far too easy for standards to slip,” said Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes Fort Bliss. “Private facilities far too frequently operate with a profit margin in mind as opposed to a governmental facility.”

Attorney Joshua Schnell, who specializes in federal contracting law, said he was troubled that the Trump administration has provided so little information about the facility.

“The lack of transparency about this contract leads to legitimate questions about why the Army would award such a large contract to a company without a website or any other publicly available information demonstrating its ability to perform such a complicated project,” he said.

Ken A. Wagner, the president and CEO of Acquisition Logistics, did not respond to phone messages or emails. No one answered the door at his three-bedroom house listed as his company’s headquarters. Virginia records list Wagner as an owner of the business, though it’s unclear whether he might have partners.

Army declines to release contract

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved using Fort Bliss for the new detention center, and the administration has hopes to build more at other bases. A spokesperson for the Army declined to discuss its deal with Acquisition Logistics or reveal details about the camp’s construction, citing the litigation over the company’s qualifications.

The Department of Homeland Security, which includes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, declined to answer questions about the detention camp it oversees.

Named Camp East Montana for the closest road, the facility is being built in the sand and scrub Chihuahuan Desert, where summertime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and heat-related deaths are common. The 60-acre site is near the U.S.-Mexico border and the El Paso International Airport, a key hub for deportation flights.

The camp has drawn comparisons to “Alligator Alcatraz,” a $245 million tent complex erected to hold ICE detainees in the Florida Everglades. That facility has been the subject of complaints about unsanitary conditions and lawsuits. A federal judge recently ordered that facility to be shut down.

The vast majority of the roughly 57,000 migrants detained by ICE are housed at private prisons operated by companies like Florida’s Geo Group and Tennessee-based CoreCivic. As those facilities fill up, ICE is also exploring temporary options at military bases in California, New York and Utah.

At Fort Bliss, construction began within days of the Army issuing the contract on July 18. Site work began months earlier, before Congress had passed Trump’s big tax and spending cuts bill, which includes a record $45 billion for immigration enforcement. The Defense Department announcement specified only that the Army was financing the initial $232 million for the first 1,000 beds at the complex.

Three white tents, each about 810 feet long, have been erected, according to satellite imagery examined by the Associated Press. A half dozen smaller buildings surround them.

Setareh Ghandehari, a spokesperson for the advocacy group Detention Watch, said the use of military bases hearkens back to World War II, when Japanese Americans were imprisoned at Army camps including Fort Bliss. She said military facilities are especially prone to abuse and neglect because families and loved ones have difficulty accessing them.

“Conditions at all detention facilities are inherently awful,” Ghandehari said. “But when there’s less access and oversight, it creates the potential for even more abuse.”

Company will be responsible for security

A June 9 solicitation notice for the Fort Bliss project specified the contractor will be responsible for building and operating the detention center, including providing security and medical care. The document also requires strict secrecy, ordering the contractor inform ICE to respond to any calls from members of Congress or the news media.

The bidding was open only to small firms such as Acquisition Logistics, which receives preferential status because it’s classified as a veteran and Hispanic-owned small disadvantaged business.

Though Trump’s administration has fought to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs, federal contracting rules include set-asides for small businesses owned by women or minorities. For a firm to compete for such contracts, at least 51% of it must be owned by people belonging to a federally designated disadvantaged racial or ethnic group.

One of the losing bidders, Texas-based Gemini Tech Services, filed a protest challenging the award and the Army’s rushed construction timeline with the U.S. Government Accountability Office, Congress’ independent oversight arm that resolves such disputes.

Gemini alleges Acquisition Logistics lacks the experience, staffing and resources to perform the work, according to a person familiar with the complaint who wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Acquisition Logistics’ past jobs include repairing small boats for the Air Force, providing information technology support to the Defense Department and building temporary offices to aid with immigration enforcement, federal records show.

Gemini and its lawyer didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.

A ruling by the GAO on whether to sustain, dismiss or require corrective action is not expected before November. A legal appeal is also pending with a U.S. federal court in Washington.

Schnell, the contracting lawyer, said Acquisitions Logistics may be working with a larger company. Geo Group Inc. and CoreCivic Corp., the nation’s biggest for-profit prison operators, have expressed interest in contracting with the Pentagon to house migrants.

In an earnings call this month, Geo Group CEO George Zoley said his company had teamed up with an established Pentagon contractor. Zoley didn’t name the company, and Geo Group didn’t respond to repeated requests asking with whom it had partnered.

A spokesperson for CoreCivic said it wasn’t partnering with Acquisition Logistics or Gemini.

Biesecker and Goodman write for the Associated Press. Goodman reported from Miami. AP writer Alan Suderman in Richmond, Va., and Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, N.M., contributed to this report.

A SMALL British carmaker behind a motor Jeremy Clarkson said could “destroy your face” is set to build a huge new factory in the UK.

Ariel – best known for its Atom motor – will build the new structure to the east of Crewkerne in Somerset on a recently acquired 43-acre site.

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The carmakers gained the land after five years of negotiation, with the new building set to open before the end of 2028 at the cost of “a few million”, Ariel boss Simon Saunders said.

Simon said the cost of building a new factory had rapidly risen since the idea was first floated, meaning the firm may need to seek external funding.

Ariel currently sells two vehicles, the Atom and the Nomad, as well as the Dash bicycle, according to its website.

The Ariel Atom, tested on Top Gear in 2005, was described by Clarkson as “so quick, it can destroy your entire face“.

Since its launch in 2000, it has gone through a number of alterations, with the Ariel Atom 4 – released in 2018 – being the most recent version available to customers.

It was awarded Britain’s Best Driver’s Car by Autocar in 2020.

With building the new site, Simon said he wanted to “move to no ordinary industrial unit”, keeping in style with the unique designs of Atom’s motors.

He explained: “While we’ve been waiting to do the land deal, we’ve investigated quite a few styles – circular buildings that might work well for production efficiency, or others whose design is reminiscent of old farm buildings you already find in this area.

“We need space for what we do now, plus a museum, a showroom and a design office. And it’s got to be efficient.”

The new site will be placed close to Atom’s existing factory, meaning Ariel will be able to keep its pre-existing workforce while also adding around 60 new staff.

It also means production capacity should be able to almost double from just 80 units per year to around 150, reports Autocar.

The huge new complex will house Ariel’s expanded manufacturing operation as well as a showroom, a spacious service and spares operation, long-term parts storage, a museum, and an office space for design and administration.

Ariel is also putting an emphasis on environmental efficiency for its new vehicles, Simon said.

The new factory will be capable of carbon capture, its roof will gather solar energy, water will come from a borehole, and there are plans to plant 8000 trees on the site.

Ariel started out in a tiny studio in Simon’s home before moving to its current site in 2007.

However, since Ariel handles advanced design as well as spares, servicing, repairs and used car sales on top of manufacturing, it has been constrained on space for years.

This comes after a 2020 Ariel Atom went to auction last year.

Describing a previous version of the car in 2005, Clarkson said he had “never, ever driven anything that accelerates so fast,” describing the Atom as being “fast on an entirely new level”.

The motor started life as a student project at Coventry University before it was originally launched in 2000.

Other iconic versions include the Ariel Atom 500, which is one of the fastest accelerating production cars ever made – taking just 2.3 seconds to get from 0-62mph.

The Ariel Atom was also voted one of Britain’s 50 best cars ever made by a panel of 10 judges earlier this year.

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UNCERTAINTY looms over Saudi Arabia’s plans to build a high-tech mountain ski resort in the middle of the desert.

The project has met such substantial woes that the country is even reportedly in talks to relocate the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

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These games had been expected to take place in Trojena – in the futuristic city of NEOM in the north of Saudi Arabia.

But the project has faced substantial difficulties as the desert Kingdom scrambles to complete the resort in time, the FT has reported.

Trojena is planned to feature 30km of ski-runs – which will include the Asian Games’ 400m slope.

Snow for the ski slopes would be artificial, and would be pumped from the Gulf of Aqaba 200km away.

“Trojena will become one of the most dazzling destinations in NEOM and across the world,” says a NEOM spokesperson.

But for all the promise of a glittering, high tech future, NEOM’s many projects have been bogged down with delays and setbacks, with Trojena being no exception.

Amid construction woes, South Korea and China are reportedly being considered as alternate venues for the games.

But a source familiar with the project told the Telegraph: “The difficulties have been magnified by the schedule imposed on the project.”

Another said: “The Saudis are really committed to building something there.

“Maybe not on the scale that they have imagined in the first place.”

NEOM was announced as part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s Project 2030 in 2017.

It came as part of a major push to wean the oil-rich nation’s economy off its reliance on fossil fuels.

As well as the ski slopes, it is expected to include The Line, Oxagon, Trojena, Sindalah and the Gulf of Aqaba Projects.

Yet human rights abuses and brutal conditions for workers looming over NEOM.

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As many as 21,000 are reported to have died during construction, but Saudi authorities have disputed this figure.

Human Rights Watch researcher Joey Shea previously told the Sun: “Unfortunately migrant workers in Saudi Arabia continue to face widespread abuses, some of which may amount to situations of forced labour, including at high profile gigaprojects.

“On NEOM, Human Rights Watch has found that ambitious targets set by Saudi authorities have tight and unrealistic deadlines which can lead employers to demand that workers continue to work under dangerous conditions.

“Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia experience illegal and exorbitant Recruitment Fees, limits to job mobility, obstacles exiting the country,  as well as serious health and safety risks.”

One NEOM worker previously told The Sun that the project’s management has “overspent quite a bit” since its announcement.

He said: “They were focusing on way too many things at the same time.

“They just wanted everything at the highest level possible. The biggest entertainment complex in the world. The biggest media studio in the region.

“No matter how much money you throw at the thing, it takes more than just money to make it work.”

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Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.

Ukraine is hoping to see production of its Flamingo ground-launched long-range cruise missile, which just broke cover this past weekend, ramp up significantly by the end of the year. Manufacturer Fire Point is aiming to have the capacity to make seven Flamingos every day by October, though there are questions about how realistic any expanded production goals might be. Reportedly with a range of 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers) and a warhead weighing 2,535 pounds (1,150 kilograms), the missile presents a much farther-reaching and more destructive weapon than any missile or one-way-attack drone available to Ukraine now.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky talked briefly about Flamingo during a sit-down with journalists yesterday. The Associated Press, which was first to reveal the missile’s existence, has also now reported additional details provided by Fire Point. Previous reports said that Flamingos have already been used in strikes on targets in Russia, but how many have been produced so far is not known.

“The tests of this missile were successful. And so far, it is the most successful missile we have – it flies 3,000 kilometers, which is important. I believe that we cannot talk much about it until we can use hundreds of missiles,” Zelensky said yesterday, according to Ukrainian outlet Ukrinform. “By December, we will have more of them. And by the end of December or in January-February, mass production should begin.”

Fire Point says it builds around one Flamingo every day now and is aiming to get that rate up to at least seven by October, according to the AP. Seven missiles per day would translate to 2,555 built annually. As an aside, something reportedly happened with the first production batch that caused the missiles to end up pink colored, which led to the Flamingo name.

New imagery published by the AP of the missile, seen below, also confirms that Flamingo is just a very large weapon, overall. We also now have a direct look at the warhead inside, which has a pointed front end that may indicate a design intended to offer increased penetration against harder targets. It is possible that the warhead could even be a repurposed air-dropped bomb.

Additional details have been released about Ukraine’s new domestically-produced long-range cruise missile, dubbed the FP-5 “Flamingo” which is manufactured by Fire Point. According to an interview with Chief Technical Officer Iryna Terekh, the “Flamingo” has entered serial… pic.twitter.com/2D5GisrmFP

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 21, 2025

Beyond the claimed range and warhead size, firm details about Flamingo’s capabilities remain limited. It is powered by a single jet engine and is launched with the help of a rocket booster via a rail mounted on a two-axle trailer.

With the new AP imagery in hand, experts and observers have drawn comparisons between what can be seen of the Flamingo’s engine and the AI-25TL turbofan, best known as the powerplant for the L-39 Albatros jet trainer. This would be a logical choice given that the AI-25 series was originally developed by Ivchenko in what was then Soviet Ukraine, and Ukrainian firm Motor Sich continues to produce versions today. Ukraine is also an operator of L-39s. The Albatros has been and continues to be a very popular design worldwide, with thousands made to date, opening up an additional avenue for sourcing engines.

As TWZ has noted previously, Flamingo’s reported capabilities also align extremely closely with another cruise missile called the FP-5, which is offered by a company called Milanion in the United Arab Emirates. Milanion describes the FP-5 as having a wingspan of 19.6 feet (six meters), a maximum takeoff weight of 13,228 pounds (6,000 kilograms), and a warhead weighing 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms), as well as a top speed of 590 miles per hour (950 kilometers per hour) and a cruising speed of 528-559 miles per hour (850–900 kilometers per hour). The missile is said to feature a satellite navigation-assisted inertial navigation system guidance package that is also designed to be resistant to electronic warfare attacks.

The FP-5 moniker also fits with the designation of another known Fire Point product, the FP-1 long-range kamikaze drone. However, the exact relationship between Flamingo and Milanion’s FP-5 remains unknown.

If Fire Point can ramp up Flamingo production, it could give Ukraine a new and immensely valuable means of targeting key sites well inside Russia, and doing so in a more destructive manner. The jet-powered nature of the missile also offers speed and suvivability benefits for penetrating deeper into Russian territory, especially compared to the converted light aircraft and other longer-range drones Ukraine relies on now for those kinds of strikes. The reported size of the warhead, combined with jet-powered speeds, would also give the missile the ability to burrow into more hardened targets, opening up all-new target sets.

As a direct comparison, the FP-1 drone, a twin-tail-boom pusher-propeller design, has a maximum range of around 994 miles (1,600 kilometers) and a 132-pound (60-kilogram) warhead, Fire Point told the AP. The company also said that FP-1s now account for some 60 percent of attacks on targets far inside Russia, further underscoring the kinds of options available to Ukraine now to prosecute those strikes.

At the same time, it remains to be seen whether Fire Point can significantly increase Flamingo production, and at what cost. The price point for a single one of the missiles is currently unknown.

“We need to consider the financing of this program,” Ukraine’s President Zelensky also said yesterday, according to Ukrinform.

Fire Point, a start-up founded in the wake of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022, was clear to tout its existing production capacity for the FP-1, as well as the relatively low cost of those drones, in its discussion with the AP. The company says it makes around 100 FP-1s every day at a cost of approximately $55,000.

“We removed unneeded, flashy glittery stuff” to help with producibility and lower costs, Iryna Terekh, Fire Point’s head of production, who is a trained architect, told the AP.

At the same time, Flamingo is very different in all respects to the FP-1. Still, if Fire Point can even just reach its current daily production target of seven, that could be a significant addition to Ukraine’s arsenal. In addition to its own organic capacity, Fire Point might look to leverage foreign partnerships to help expand its ability to churn out Flamingos, if it is not doing so already in cooperation with Milanion.

Regardless, Flamingo’s emergence comes at a time of particular uncertainty about how the ongoing war in Ukraine may evolve, with a new burst of discussion around ceasefire and peace proposals now swirling. U.S. authorities have also reportedly been pressing Ukrainian authorities to offer territorial and other concessions to Russia to bring the fighting to an end following a summit between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska last week.

On a strategic level, Flamingo could give Ukraine a valuable additional negotiation tool because of the broad swath of Russia it could potentially threaten. As a domestically developed weapon, Ukrainian forces would have much more freedom to employ the missiles against targets inside Russian territory. Western countries have, on-and-off, placed restrictions on the use of long-range munitions they have supplied against Russia proper, and otherwise pressured Ukraine not to strike certain categories of targets.

“It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invader’s country. It’s like a great team in sports that has a fantastic defense, but is not allowed to play offense,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social social media network today. “[Former U.S. President] Joe Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND. How did that work out?”

👀👀👀

US President Trump: It is very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking an invaders country […] Crooked and grossly incompetent Joe Biden would not let Ukraine FIGHT BACK, only DEFEND. How did that work out? […] Interesting times ahead!!! pic.twitter.com/PMGu7GYApF

— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) August 21, 2025

For Ukraine, there is a clear impetus to do whatever might be possible to increase stocks of Flamingo and help the missile live up to its full potential.

Contact the author: [email protected]

Residents are opposed to the bridge over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental effect, and mafia interference.

Thousands of people have marched in Sicily to protest against a government plan to build a bridge that would connect the Italian mainland to the Mediterranean island, and would be the world’s longest single-span bridge.

Some 10,000 demonstrators marched in the Sicilian city of Messina on Saturday to stage their opposition to the 13.5-billion-euro ($15.7bn) infrastructure project.

Residents are against the proposed Strait of Messina Bridge project over its scale, earthquake threats, environmental effect, and potential mafia interference.

The idea to build the bridge has been debated for decades. This week, however, it saw a major step forward when a government committee overseeing strategic public investments approved the plan.

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini called it “the biggest infrastructure project in the West”.

Salvini cited studies estimating the project would create up to 120,000 jobs annually and help stimulate economic growth in lagging southern Italy, as billions more are invested in surrounding road and infrastructure improvements.

Critics, however, are not convinced, and angered that about 500 families would have to be expropriated for the bridge to be built. Salvini says such families will be compensated.

“The Strait of Messina can’t be touched,” protesters shouted as they marched in Messina. Many carried banners that said “No Ponte” (No Bridge).

“They could offer me three times the value of my house, but that doesn’t matter to me. What matters is the landscape. They must not touch the Strait of Messina,” Mariolina De Francesco, a 75-year-old resident of Messina whose house lies near the site of one of the bridge’s planned 399-metre- (440-yard-)tall land towers, told The Associated Press news agency.

“Our lawyers will take action, and we will stop them. That’s guaranteed.”

The proposed bridge would span nearly 3.7km (2.3 miles) with a suspended section of 3.3km (more than 2 miles). It would surpass Turkiye’s Canakkale Bridge by 1,277 metres (1,400 yards) to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Preliminary work could begin in late September or early October, pending approval from Italy’s Court of Audit. Full construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion planned between 2032 and 2033.

The bridge would reduce the time to cross the strait by ferry, usually up to 100 minutes, to 10 minutes by car. Trains would save 2.5 hours in transit time, Salvini said.

The project could also support Italy’s commitment to raise defence spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) targeted by NATO, as the government has indicated it would classify the bridge as defence-related. Italy argues that the bridge would form a strategic corridor for rapid troop movements and equipment deployment, qualifying it as “security-enhancing infrastructure”.

Environmental groups, however, have lodged complaints with the European Union, citing concerns that the project would affect migratory birds.

Italy’s president has also insisted that the project remain subject to anti-mafia legislation that applies to all large-scale infrastructure projects.

Italy has approved a $15.5bn suspension bridge which will connect the mainland to the island of Sicily.

Italy has given final approval to a long-delayed plan to construct the world’s longest suspension bridge, connecting the mainland to Sicily in a project worth €13.5bn ($15.5bn).

Transport Minister Matteo Salvini hailed the Strait of Messina Bridge as “the biggest infrastructure project in the West” after a key government committee cleared the path on Wednesday. He said the project would generate 120,000 jobs annually and revitalise southern Italy through wider investment in infrastructure.

Preliminary work could begin as early as October, pending a green light from Italy’s court of audit, with construction expected to start in 2026. Salvini estimated the bridge could be completed by 2033.

With a span of 3.3km, the bridge would surpass Turkey’s Canakkale Bridge and carry six lanes of traffic and two railway lines, cutting the current 100-minute ferry crossing to just 10 minutes by car.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the bridge would become “an engineering symbol of global significance”.

The project, first proposed in 1969, has stalled repeatedly due to environmental objections, mafia fears and seismic risks. The design is inspired by Turkiye’s Canakkale structure, featuring a wing-shaped deck meant to improve stability in high winds.

Defence or development?

Rome says the bridge could help it meet NATO’s defence spending goals by classifying it as “dual-use” infrastructure, a designation that has caused controversy.

More than 600 academics warned that such a move would require further military safety assessments and could make the bridge a potential target.

Salvini said it was up to the defence and economy ministries to decide, but insisted “keeping organised crime out of the project is the top priority”.

Environmental groups, meanwhile, have raised complaints with the European Union, warning of potential disruption to migratory birds and a lack of proof that the project meets public interest thresholds.

The bridge contract was awarded to Webuild, the same firm that won the initial bid in 2006 before the plan was cancelled. The company says its design will withstand earthquakes, pointing to similar bridges in Japan and California.

“The bridge will be transformative for the whole country,” said Webuild CEO Pietro Salini.