HRH Prince William Visits Bournemouth and Poole College to Celebrate Back-to-Work Initiative

HRH Prince William, The Prince of Wales, visited the Sunseeker Skills Academy at Bournemouth and Poole College to meet the individuals driving the success of a transformative back-to-work learning initiative. The programme gives people the training needed to gain skilled jobs, helping them and local businesses.

During his visit, Prince William met with participants of the initiative, including Dan, who successfully navigated significant personal challenges, including homelessness, to secure training at Bournemouth and Poole College and a permanent job with Sunseeker International Ltd., the Poole-based luxury boat builder.

Prince William also met Rob Cox, from the Bournemouth charity Faithworks, through which Dan began his journey to employment. Dan had then joined one of the college’s Job Ready courses, which give initial support for people returning to work, and Prince William heard from college staff leading and teaching on the life-changing training programmes.

Prince William then met staff and learners from the Sunseeker Skills Academy, the last stage in Dan’s journey back to stable employment, a joint venture by the college and boat builder, which is adding at least 80 new people a year to Sunseeker’s workforce.

As Prince William concluded his visit, he took the time to meet with students who had gathered to catch a glimpse of him. He warmly engaged with them, shaking hands, posing for photographs and sharing moments of conversation. A particularly touching moment occurred, when he embraced a student studying on a Foundation course. 

His Royal Highness made the visit to support the work of Homewards, a ground-breaking, five-year initiative launched by the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, dedicated to ending homelessness through locally-led solutions. 

“We were really proud to have Prince William visit Bournemouth and Poole College,” said Principal and CEO, Phil Sayles, “he saw some of the amazing work that our staff do, and we were delighted that he took some time at the end of his visit to say hello to some our students who were absolutely ecstatic.”

The Sunseeker Skills Academy at Bournemouth and Poole College plays a crucial role in providing a direct pathway into skilled employment within the local marine manufacturing sector. Through its semi-skilled boat-building apprenticeship programme, the Academy supplies Sunseeker with approximately 80 new employees each year. Participants in the programme receive hands-on training in five different essential trades essential to boat construction, equipping them with the diverse skill set required to work on a shipyard. This initiative not only offers a structured starting point for a long-term career in boatbuilding, but also strengthens the college’s commitment to supporting local manufacturers by developing a skilled workforce. 

The first ‘Job Ready’ programme was developed as a result of strong collaboration between Bournemouth and Poole College, Sunseeker and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Together, we are proud to have created a structured training placement scheme designed to support out-of-work individuals in gaining vital employability skills. This four-week course introduces participants to the fundamentals of boat building and carpentry, equipping them with the skills necessary to pursue a career in the sector.

This, coupled with support in CV writing and employability skills, gives programme graduates the opportunity to interview for a potential place on the semi-skilled boat-builder apprenticeship, delivered in partnership with Sunseeker. The college has gone on to develop Job Ready programmes, in conjunction with the DWP, for other job roles such as barista, warehousing and ground work.

HRH Prince William’s visit highlights Bournemouth and Poole College’s dedication to providing high-quality training that directly aligns with local industry needs. By equipping individuals with practical skills and creating direct employment pathways, the college continues to play a key role in addressing both unemployment and skills shortages in the region. The success of initiatives such as the Sunseeker Skills Academy underscores the college’s key purpose, to support the local economy by preparing students for sustainable, long-term careers in skilled trades.