Marine Apprentices Attend the Southampton Boat Show
Fourth-year Marine Boatbuilder apprentices attended the Southampton Boat Show on Wednesday, 18th September on an organised day trip from Bournemouth and Poole College; the day after the announcement of the British Marine Apprentice of the Year Award.
The marine industry's top young talents celebrated at the Apprentice Recognition Ceremony and a total of 63 apprentices from prominent marine companies were honoured during the event, culminating in the announcement of Anisha Roberts as the Apprentice of the Year. Anisha, now in her third year of the L3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship with Williams Jet Tenders, took home the much-sought-after award.
Jasmine Kundra, a former contestant on BBC’s The Apprentice, led the event and shared her insights on success, focusing on the theme of ‘thinking differently.’ She was joined by British Marine President Robert Parton, as well as Able Seaman Angel Collar, who delivered an inspiring speech about her own apprenticeship journey.
The day continued with the much-anticipated Careers and Apprenticeship Evening, where around 50 job seekers of all ages engaged with leading companies and training providers from the marine industry. Fifteen organizations participated, including Berthon Boat Company, Oyster Yachts, Carnival, Tall Ships Youth Trust, Marine Transport Careers, Bournemouth and Poole College, The Marine Society and Sea Cadets, Brockenhurst College, South Hampshire College Group, SeaRegs Training, the Royal Navy, Warsash Maritime School, Rockley Watersports, RoboSys, and CECA NextGen. Attendees had the chance to explore career options, learn about apprenticeships, and discover job opportunities.
Learning Manager, Peter Leech, Automotive-Boatbuilding-Composite-Marine (Engineering & Electrical) at the college, said: “We’ve had another extremely successful year with our Marine apprentices, and attending the Southampton Boat Show provides our Boatbuilding Apprentices with an invaluable opportunity to see new technologies up close and participate in hands-on demonstrations from leading suppliers. Additionally, collaborating with students from the University of Southampton on pioneering areas like marine robotics, wind-assisted shipping, and exploring the Research Vessel Callista allowed them to gain exposure to advanced fields and innovative practices, enhancing their skills, broadening their perspectives, and inspiring their journey within the marine industry.”
Additionally, at The Boat Show, over 1,000 school children, who engaged in hands-on activities like sailing and paddleboarding were in attendance. They also explored innovative exhibits from the University of Southampton, gaining firsthand insight into the marine industry's advancements and career opportunities. Some even had the chance to meet Captain Ted Funnel.
Tania Tait, Boatbuilding Assessor at Bournemouth and Poole College said: “The Southampton Boat Show provides an opportunity for our apprentices to explore other areas of the marine industry which they may not ordinarily come into contact with through work.”
She added: “By exploring the show, the apprentices can learn about the latest industry trends, developments, and environmental protection work being done throughout the marine industry. Southampton Boat Show is a great place to see a variety of build techniques/technology; for example, the 3D printed boat on display which is a great example of how 3D printing and CAD/CAM are making an impact on our industry or the steam-bending demonstration which showcased traditional boatbuilding techniques.” Overall, it was a great day for all to broaden their understanding of the international marine industry, and the various sectors within.”
