Get advice and tips for a career in the marine industry at the Southampton International Boat Show
by British Marine 25 Aug 2022 20:17 BST
16-25 September 2022
Olivia Richards-Smith, Apprentice Marine Engineer at Sunseeker © Richard Tarr
Tuesday 20 September is Schools, Careers and Apprenticeship Day at the Southampton International Boat Show and British Marine, the team behind the show, will be bringing a series of events to the show to introduce young people to the marine world and showcase ways to help them get started, develop and succeed in a career in the marine industry.
The British Marine Career Speed Networking event (14.00-17.00 Holiday Inn), aimed at students from year 10 upwards, including college and university students, provides the perfect opportunity to meet with employers from across the marine sector and ask those burning questions. Just like speed dating, each student will have 5 minutes with each employer before moving to the next, with a total of 15 employers in the room to chat to, attendees may just find their perfect future job match!
Earlier in the day (10.00-13.00, Holiday Inn) apprentices from British Marine member companies will be invited to a special graduation ceremony to celebrate their success and impending achievement of their respective Apprenticeship. The Careers and Apprenticeship graduation event will be hosted by Jasmine Kundra (2018 candidate on BBC's The Apprentice), and explorer Monty Halls will provide the keynote speech. Attendees will also be able to take part in a panel discussion with industry experts, providing a unique opportunity to ask questions regarding careers and opportunities in the leisure marine industry.
British Marine and Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust will also be hosting a joint networking event (17.00-19.00, Holiday Inn) to showcase a proposed training programme, created from feedback from a recent skills survey. British Marine Training Academy, in partnership with Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, plan to deliver training that serves to close current gaps in skills and get people trained in the relevant areas. This networking event will outline the plans and will welcome feedback from attendees.
In particular attendees will have the opportunity to view and input into a proposed foundation training syllabus, ask questions, relay valuable thoughts, and meet the team working behind the scenes to make a positive difference in the current training landscape. Complimentary drinks and canapes will be provided.
Plus, over 700 school children aged 11 upwards will be attending the show to get a taste of marine life. There will be a special Foredeck Stage takeover with informative talks and activities. The treasure hunt will provide the perfect opportunity to navigate around the whole show as the children track down the clues. They will also be provided with a range of opportunities to get out on the water. A lucky few will get the chance to sail out into Southampton waters on board the tall-ship the Morgenster or enjoy a trip on the show's very own mini cruise ship, Ocean Scene.
Stand up paddleboarding, kayaking or dinghy sailing will also be available through the show's 'Get Afloat' sessions, under the expert guidance of the team from Rockely Watersports. While for those who fancy trying something bigger, Try-a-Boat in partnership with FlexiSail has a fleet of yachts and motorboats available for the youngsters to try.
"It is invaluable to engage with young people so they build an early understanding of what careers are available within the sector and that way we secure a pipeline of skilled talent for the future", commented Lesley Robinson, CEO, British Marine.
"Our training team are working incredibly hard to support people working in the sector and to develop the skills for the workforce of the future, and these great events are just some of the ways we are working hard to support people already in the industry or thinking about working in the sector."
To find out more and to book a place at either the careers speed networking or British Marine Training Academy networking events please email