The river Clyde was once the centre of global shipbuilding. Today, just two shipyards remain on the upper part of the river — Govan and Scotstoun. Owned by the private firm BAE Systems, the yards are contracted by the Ministry of Defence to build Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy.

The military industry, of which these yards are a part, runs on public money. Despite the constant flow of government contracts to companies like BAE Systems, employment in the sector remains insecure. Since 1980, more than half of jobs in the UK’s military industry have been lost, including cyclical job losses in naval shipbuilding. A new deal to export Type 26 frigates to Norway will not lead to new jobs on the Clyde; instead, it secures existing work until an undefined point in the 2030s.

As this project shows, military industrial sites are directed by public investment and can be used to make more than just military equipment. This process of industrial conversion was popular throughout the twentieth century, whether led by trade unions or corporate interests.

Below, we chart selected examples of industrial conversion in the UK, US and continental Europe. Then, we explore the future potential of conversion in a video modelling alternative production at Govan and Scotstoun, based on interviews with workers at both shipyards. Our video suggests one example of the alternative futures possible at military industrial sites.