Traditional boatbuilders unite to address UK skills crisis
Among the boats on display was the Guide of Dunkirk. All images courtesy of Charles Ward.
More than 60 professionals from the British wooden boatbuilding and heritage marine engineering sectors gathered at a newly expanded riverside boatyard in Reedham, Norfolk, to mark the launch of a new yard opened by Abbey Molyneux, also known as Abbey Boatbuilder.
The event, held on 14 June 2025, brought together industry participants from across the country to discuss the current challenges and future of traditional boatbuilding in the UK.
Molyneux, who set up her yard in Norfolk in 2021, has relocated to a larger site with expanded workshop and storage space, hard-standing areas, a crane and on-site accommodation. Among the boats on display was the Guide of Dunkirk, a vessel associated with the Dunkirk Little Ships. Molyneux has acquired the boat and plans to restore it with a gender-diverse team while offering opportunities for local women and youth to engage with heritage craft and gain practical experience.
The event took place amid concerns about the visibility and support of the traditional boatbuilding sector. Industry figures noted the contrast between Molyneux’s progress and recent reports of yard closures, alongside concerns that national bodies are prioritising naval and GRP export sectors while traditional craftsmanship receives limited attention.
Three major reports in recent years have highlighted the skills shortage in traditional boatbuilding, including work by the Craft Association and Wooden Boat Trade Association, the National Shipbuilding Office and National Historic Ships.
In May 2025, MP Edward Morello addressed these issues in a Westminster debate. Despite this, no coordinated national strategy has emerged to support training and workforce development in the sector.
Molyneux says: “It was truly fantastic to see everyone together. Our industry goes unnoticed and rarely receives positive press or recognition, but it was clear to see from the turnout that our industry is thriving and growing despite the lack of training, support and funding.
“We are all working together to keep these skills alive and to make sure our beautiful industry prospers into the future. We are determined to bring our industry to a wider audience, and with all the support shown after Saturday’s event, we will certainly be making waves in the coming years. Watch this space.”
A collaborative initiative is now being developed to raise the profile of the industry and advocate for traditional skills and materials as part of the marine sector’s future.
Will Reed, director of the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy, says: “Visiting Abbey’s new yard was inspirational for two reasons: Firstly, Abbey herself is an incredibly talented boatbuilder. She is also driven, forward-thinking, a superb businesswoman, and focused on pulling the traditional boatbuilding world together.
“Secondly, many of the guests travelled for several hours across the country for discussion and debate. There were boatbuilders, yard owners, enthusiasts and educators – all with the common goal of preserving and developing our wonderful industry. The determination to work together in pushing things forward and to shout about the successes was embraced by all.
“For me, of course, the focus is on providing the best possible education to upcoming boatbuilders and feeding the industry. This only works if we have a thriving workforce ready to take our newly qualified boatbuilders on the next leg of their journey.”
Jim Dines, founder of the Heritage Marine Foundation, says: “It was good to see so many like-minded people gathered with the same aims and concerns. Since the restoration of the Cutty Sark, we have been concerned about how we bring more young people into the traditional vessel industry, not just boatbuilders, but riggers, oars and sparmakers, engineers, fabricators and finishers.
“With rigging finally being added to the list of endangered skills, we feel that the threat to these skills is now at least recognised. We need to make the UK aware that there is a shortage of young people entering the industry and to bring it to the attention of young people that there is a viable career path in the industry. The skills learned in conserving, maintaining and operating traditional vessels of all types are transferable across the board into modern vessels, both sail and motor, as well as the commercial industry; this is not the case the other way round.”
Belinda Joslin, founder of Women in Boat Building CIC and a member of the National Shipbuilding Office’s Shadow Board, says: “For two years I’ve been lobbying the National Shipbuilding Office for a response to the placing of traditional boatbuilding on the Red List – they’ve made it clear it’s not their priority but it is ours. We have an ageing skilled workforce, and we need young people to fall in love with the joy of boatbuilding and all its related skill sets.
“People are in this industry because they love it – it’s a lifestyle choice, and a calling. The heritage skills are the heart and soul of our industry, captivating children’s imagination for life. Without young people learning the skills, key parts of our nation’s heritage and culture will literally sink. So we need to work together as a collective of yards, colleges, individuals – to do what the industry bodies are not doing.”
Plans for an organised response are now underway, aiming to create a unified voice to preserve traditional techniques and support skills development for future generations.
Dear Anna,
I am a traditional wooden boat builder and have been in the marine industry for the past 48 years. I have seen a lot of changes over the years
since I started in 1977. Not all for the best, lack of investment in apprenticeships as Governments focus over the past 50 years as been on getting young people into Universities and not offering young people an apprenticeship pathway. Making young people feel if they can not get into university they were not successful and gave these young people a sense of lack of self esteem and a faultily. When these young people could have had the chance of a worthwhile apprenticeship.
Centres such as the international boat building centre at lowestoft were good to teach boat building however, they did not run on real world pressures to keep in business and in the end when people who wish to pay to become boatbuilders became lower. the college could know longer keep open. so it was not fit for purpose.
I have currently one apprentice working with me, he is learning the skills not only to be a good boatbuilder, he is also learning that in this industry you have to be a master of many skills in order to keep in business.
I would take on women as well as men in my business, however, after a lot of advertising for women become boat builders in my local area of North Essex, There as not been any replies from women.
Regards
Simon Papendick
J-Star Marine Services
I see from the lack of replies, no one gives a dam that Boat builders are leaving the trade because the conditions and pay are poor and the boat builders would be better paid in any other job.The boatyards are stay open as the recruitment of the correct people is getting difficult and keeping the staff is difficult as well as many boatyards can not afford to pay their staff much above the national living wages because owners want to pay as little for th craft.
Not really a shortage of skill but a shortage of pay. Why work as a boatbuilder for minimum wage when you earn £20 an hour on site, you go home at 4, have paid lunch breaks and the health and safety isn’t 20 years in the past. If the wages went up the boatbuilders would come back.
The only people left are those that truly love the work or don’t have to worry about the money for anyone else it isn’t a viable career.
Hi Mr Boat,
If there was not a storage of skill, why is traditional boat building on the endangered skills register. It is because there are few people coming into the marine industry to make it their career. Yes I take onboard your point about that it is not a well paid career and that you could get a better paid job in any other career pathway.
The major problem is that the owners of small to medium sized craft are unwilling to pay what the real cost of the job. Thinking that owners of small yards do the work for the love of it and not to make a living.
Sorry to burst their bubble, We as owners of small yards have to pay our bills just like the rest of society. We have to pay for our workshop, gas, electricity rent, public liability insurance, our apprentices wages when they are at work at college and on holiday. then you have to pay yourself a living wage. Then when you have calculated all this and you hand the owner the bill they how much. Some owners think you are taking them for a ride.
They are willing to pay garages the going rate for the work, so why should boatyards especially small one be treated as if they are taking piss. We all have to make a living. It is about time the boat owners live in the present and not the past and give small boatyard owners what the should be paid in order to keep going and protect our endangered profession before it is lost by short sighted people.
Simon Papendick
J-Star Marine Services