SIBS 2022 to hold marine careers day

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 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 will take place from 2pm to 7pm at the Holiday Inn in Southampton and is aimed at students from year ten upwards, including college and university students. The event provides an opportunity to meet with employers from across the marine sector and ask any questions. Just like speed dating, each student will have five minutes with each employer before moving to the next, with a total of 15 employers to chat to.

British Marine and Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust will also be hosting a joint networking event from 5pm till 7pm at the Holiday Inn, showcasing 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 canapés will be provided.

From 10am to 1pm on the same day, 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.

Over 700 school children aged 11 and up will be attending the Southampton boat show to get a taste of marine life. There will be a special Foredeck Stage takeover with informative talks and activities, including a treasure hunt.  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 and dinghy sailing will also be available through the show’s ‘Get Afloat’ sessions, under the expert guidance of the team from Rockely Watersports. Try-a-Boat in partnership with FlexiSail also has a fleet of yachts and motorboats available.

“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,” says Lesley Robinson, CEO of 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.”