Superyacht jobs agency doubles size of Southampton headquarters

International jobs board Yotspot, which matches superyachts with ‘below deck’ crew around the world, has doubled its workspace at Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC), Southampton, due to the growth of the business.

The employment placement agency, which has been at OVIC in Ocean Village Marina since 2014, is ramping up operations following the hire of a managing director, Danielle McLaren.

Yotspot currently has around 90,000 people on its books and matches luxury yachts – chartered and owned – with crew.

Co-founder Daryl Bradley says: “As the leading jobs board in the luxury yachting industry internationally, our goal is to take Yotspot to the next level and underpin our competitive advantage.

“We’ve been at OVIC for eight years now and, with Danielle on board, the time was right to flex the office space up to meet future head office requirements for talented staff.”

Two more staff have also been appointed, one with a digital marketing remit along with a client relationship manager and other hires are planned.

In the past 12 months, 1,500 people have been placed, including up to 24 hours before a charter embarks.

Launched in 2010 by Daryl Bradley and Steve Crawford, Yotspot has seen 150,000 vacancies posted.

Bradley adds: “Yacht crew recruitment is big business, given the Instagramable lifestyle of the rich and famous, and we are very much in a growth mode to deliver for our customers from all around the globe.”

As well as placements, the business provides training through internationally accredited courses, mentoring, mental health, social platforms and a 24/7 ‘one-stop-shop’ for all crew needs.

Stephen Deller, OVIC’s centre manager, says: “Yotspot has anchored here at OVIC since 2014 and it’s great to see the business increase its footprint on site, providing convenience and operational efficiency for the Yotspot team.

“Market research shows that the global luxury yacht market is on course to reach nearly $13 billion within nine years, compared to $5.8 billion in 2020, so there is clear growth factored in this buoyant sector. Against this backdrop, Yotspot is in a good position to capitalise on its expertise and reach.”

OVIC, which has 30,000 sq ft of serviced offices and meeting rooms, is run by Oxford Innovation Space on behalf of the building’s private owner.