Navy's submarine service desperate for engineers after private firms '˜poach' top experts

The pleas come over concerns private companies are ‘poaching’ the navy’s top engineers.

Up to 40 sailors from the surface flotilla and fleet air arm are being urged to transfer and support the submarine service.

Those who do qualify as submariners – or earn their ‘dolphins’ – will be given a £5,000 ‘golden hello’ from the navy.

Rear Admiral John Weale said: ‘This is a proactive step to make sure that we have the right people.’