Marine & Coastal Tourism graduate joins marina team in Troon

One of the first graduates from the Marine and Coastal Tourism degree programme at West Highland College UHI in Fort William has landed a job at Troon Yacht Haven.

Susie Mowatt, originally from Arran, was part of the first cohort of graduates on the course which was specifically designed to meet the requirements of the marine and tourism industry. It was developed by West Highland College’s School of Adventure Studies, which is part of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

In her new role as Assistant Haven Master at Troon Yacht Haven in Ayrshire, Susie will work alongside Haven Master, Sarah Jeffrey, who joined the marina in early 2018 having been a Senior Instructor at Helensburgh Sailing Club as well as a competitive sailor on the west coast’s racing scheme.

Commenting on Susie’s arrival, Sarah has been delighted at how quickly she has picked up the role: “We operate a 24/7 marina, welcoming 1,000s of visiting boats every year as well as supporting 400 resident boats.  Susie’s boating experience through her course and personal sailing life made her the perfect candidate to join our marina team here in Troon.”

Based on the Ayrshire coast, Troon Yacht Haven is one of Scotland’s busiest marinas and won the Best UK Marina/Harbour 2018 in the Sailing Today Awards. Susie joins a team of ten employees at the marina which includes bosuns, boat hoist operatives and marina haven masters.

Annabel Lawrence is a lecturer on the Marine and Coastal Tourism degree programme at the University of the Highlands and Islands from which Susie graduated in 2017.  Annabel commented: “We are delighted that one of our graduates is proving to be such a positive addition to the team at Troon Yacht Haven.  Our aim with this unique and ground-breaking degree was to prepare students for a rapidly expanding range of careers in the marine and coastal tourism industry, and it’s heartening to know Susie has clearly utilised her qualification well to achieve some of her ambitions and to help boost her career in this exciting and vitally important industry.”