[3] The ex-Vickers yard at Barrow was the first shipyard of the British Shipbuilders group to return to the private sector.

It was sold in March 1986 to an employee-led company, VSEL Consortium, which also included its Birkenhead-based subsidiary, Cammell Laird.

[4] In 1988, a mistake by senior management and changing shipbuilding methods meant that the Vickers shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness accidentally welded part of HMS Triumph (a nuclear submarine) in an upside-down position.

[7] VSEL was willing to participate in a merger with a larger company to reduce its exposure to cycles in warship production, particularly following the Options for Change defence review after the end of the Cold War.

Both bids were referred to the Monopolies & Mergers Commission (MMC) which issued its conclusions and advice to government in May 1995.