Due to be completed in the autumn of 2016, the facility on the banks of the River Clyde is the first of its kind in Central and Southern Scotland, and will provide mandatory and safety training courses for workers in the marine and oil and gas industries.

Joyce Downie, Clyde Group managing director, said: “We are delighted to start work on our new centre, located right in the heart of Scotland’s ship-building and maritime heritage. This is an ideal place to base ourselves and, once complete, we will be able to offer a comprehensive syllabus under one roof.

“The jobs created will range from training assistants, customer care to quality control. We also aim to source many of the elements for running the centre from the local area.

“Once completed the centre hopes to welcome over 5,000 delegates a year and with this will come the economic benefits as they visit and stay in and around Clydebank.”

West Dunbartonshire Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, convener of infrastructure, regeneration and economic development, said: “The council is committed to improving economic growth and employability across West Dunbartonshire and this exciting new development will play its part in helping to deliver this aim.

“It is pleasing that the town’s maritime legacy lives on, firstly with ship management company Northern Marine Group and now the arrival of The Clyde Group subsidiary; Clyde Training Solutions.

“This major development also welcomes the oil and gas industry to Clydebank and offers a first-class accessible service to industry workers living in Scotland’s Central Belt and Southern regions.”

On completion the centre will be able to deliver courses from the Standards of Training Certification and Watch keeping (STCW) accredited by Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Approval to gain Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation (OPITO) accreditation for a number of courses from the facility will also be sought.

The centre will house multiple classrooms, training pool, HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training module), and a full fire training ground complete with training stack and helideck to meet the highest level of industry standards.