Apprenticeships

The first degree apprenticeships in the maritime sector are now available: Marine Technical Superintendent and Marine Surveyor. Work is well-advanced on creating a Harbour Master apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships have been developed through its “Maritime SuperSkills” project by Liverpool John Moores University.

LJMU are also exploring the possibility of a Naval Architecture apprenticeship. Contact: Professor Ian Jenkinson. You can find out more about careers in naval architecture on the website of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

The apprenticeship leads the way to the national Boatmaster licence, recognised by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (and at Tier 1 Level 2, the top level, covering tidal rivers and 'limited distances to sea').

The Government offers substantial subsidies to companies which employ apprentices working towards their Boatmaster licence. Details are available from the following three centres, which all support the apprenticeship:

• the National Maritime Training Centre at North Kent College
• Sea Regs Ltd, based in Plymouth, and lead contractor to the Thames Skills Academy.

Companies on the lower Thames will find it helpful to talk to the Thames Skills Academy, which supports members who offer apprenticeships. Also on that link you will find information about the Marine Engineering Apprenticeship which the TSA has designed with South Essex College for its members.

This apprenticeship is not currently available in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. If you would like it to be, please talk to Iain Mackinnon.

Three providers have been approved to support the apprenticeship:

• Brockenhurst College
• Cornwall Training
• Dart Marine Academy, South Devon College

Detail about the Marina and Boatyard apprenticeship is here. British Marine is investigating what interest there is in creating a Modern Apprenticeship in Scotland. Contact: Aileen Monk, British Marine Scotland.

Have a look also at British Marine's Careers Pages.

A new Marine Pilot apprenticeship is now available, and you can find full details here.

The Government provides substantial subsidies to companies which employ people through recognised apprenticeships. You can find out more through Port Skills and Safety, which helped to create the apprenticeship, and through South Shields Marine School, which provides the 'off-the-job' support.

Apprenticeships for deck ratings and engine room ratings are currently supported by:

• Fleetwood Nautical Campus
• National Maritime Training Centre at North Kent College
• City of Glasgow College
• South Shields Marine School

The MNTB's advice and information on ratings apprenticeships is here.

The Deck rating apprenticeship Standard, which applies in England - and is formally known as "Able Seafarer (Deck)" - is here, along with the approved Assessment Plan.

For Engine Room ratings, the Maritime Trailblazer Group has been working with the Royal Navy to design a joint Standard ("Maritime Electrical / Mechanical Mechanic") which covers the needs of both and it is now available for use: you'll find full details here.

Both deck and engine room ratings apprenticeships are also available in Scotland, and you'll find full details here. Neither is currently available in Northern Ireland or Wales; please let Iain Mackinnon know if you would like them to be.

A wholly-new Maritime Caterer apprenticeship is available in England: details here. In Scotland the Hospitality Modern Apprenticeship is available "with maritime enhancements" - as piloted by Caledonian MacBrayne in partnership with City of Glasgow College.

In addition to the Government's subsidy, the Maritime Education Foundation offers companies grants of £4,000 for eligible apprentice ratings following approved deck, engine room and catering apprenticeships. Details here.

For other roles in the Merchant Navy, including cadetships (for trainee officers in deck, engineering and electro-technical roles), see the Careers At Sea website.

Companies cannot use their Apprenticeship Levy funds for cadets because cadetships do not count as a 'statutory apprenticeship'.

There are apprenticeship routes for Port Operatives in both England (at Level 2) and Scotland (at SCQF Level 5); you'll find full details here: England; Scotland. The apprenticeship is not currently available in either Wales or Northern Ireland; if you would like it to be, please contact Iain Mackinnon.

For supervisors and first line managers, Port Skills and Safety feature a tailored version of the generic Team Leader / Supervisor apprenticeship, contextualised for ports by Weston College, working with the Bristol Port Company. Details here.

Both Colin Bassam at Port Training Services (the commercial arm of the Port of Blyth, working across the country) and Simon Jinks at SeaRegs, based in Plymouth, are able to support employers looking for training partners.

There are also, in England only at this stage, the following higher level apprenticeships (designed for someone with relevant prior experience):

• Port Marine Operations Officers (Level 4): details here.
• Marine Pilots (Level 5): details here
• Harbourmasters (Level 6): details here

The Government offers substantial subsidies to employers using recognised apprenticeships. You can find out more from Port Skills and Safety.

For a good introduction to the wide range of apprenticeships available in the ports sector, including many not specific to the maritime industry, have a look at Associated British Ports' apprenticeship video on YouTube. PD Ports currently (Feb 2020) employs 52 apprentices "studying across all locations and functions including finance, engineering, property, IT, construction and accountancy" and profiles four of its apprentices here (news item dated 4th-7th February 2020).

Have a look also at Port Skills and Safety's Careers Page and its Guide to Apprenticeships.

See the Royal Navy's website for comprehensive information about career opportunities. The site also covers the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the civilian body which keeps the Royal Navy supplied.

In Scotland, NAFC Marine Centre in Shetland supports sea fishing apprenticeships.

We have an apprenticeship again in England thanks to work by the Cornish Fish Producers Association. Details here.

Whitby Fishing School also runs a year-long programme very similar to the old apprenticeship, based on the Level 2 Diploma in Maritime Studies: Sea Fishing.

The sea fishing apprenticeship is also not currently available in Wales or Northern Ireland. If you would like it to be, please talk to Iain Mackinnon

You can find more information about other training in the sea fishing sector, including the 3-week Introduction to Commercial Fishing course, here.

Detailed information about the Workboat Crewmember apprenticeship varies a little between England and Scotland; you can find full information on these links: England; Scotland.

Kerrie Forster, Chief Executive of the Workboat Association, introduces the workboat industry here, including explaining his own career.

The Government offers substantial subsidies to companies which employ apprentices in the workboat sector; details are available from the Workboat Association or either of these recognised training providers - 54 North Maritime Training Ltd (based in Whitby), SeaRegs (based in Plymouth), and UKSA, based on the Isle of Wight - which provide the 'off-the-job' training to support the apprenticeship. Argyll College is in the process of establishing an equivalent support programme as the only approved provider in Scotland.

Have a look also at the Workboat Association's training page.

This apprenticeship is not currently available in Wales or Northern Ireland. If you would like it to be, please talk to Iain Mackinnon.

Border Force

British Marine

British Tugowners Association

Company of Watermen and Lightermen

International Jack Up Barge Operators Association

International Association of Maritime Institutions

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Marine Society and Sea Cadets

Merchant Navy Training Board

MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association

Port Skills and Safety

Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Royal Navy

Royal Yachting Association

Sea Fish Industry Authority

Thames Skills Academy

The Seafarers' Charity

Workboat Association