Yacht-builders apprentices have the wind in their sails
Article Type: Notes and news From: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 42, Issue 3
A four-year apprenticeship scheme is training 16-19 year-olds as engineers,electricians, joiners, fabricators and welders specializing in building and refitting yachts.
Henk Wiekens, managing director of Pendennis Shipyard, Falmouth, UK,commented: “The impact that the apprentices have had on the company over the last ten years has been outstanding. The scheme has achieved, and often exceeded, all its original aims – from bringing down the average age of our workforce by a number of years to providing us with leaders of the future.”
In 1998, Pendennis faced the twin challenges of a shortage of skilled recruits and an ageing workforce. The workforce asked for a traditional apprenticeship scheme and, with Cornwall College, the shipyard set about designing one.
In recruiting apprentices, who must have four GCSEs at grade C or above, the company looks for young people who would be capable of attending university but have chosen a more hands-on route. The aim is to develop not only highly skilled trades people, but also future supervisors and managers. The company also wanted to minimize its reliance on subcontractors, increase in-house control and achieve growth.
The first year of the apprenticeship is spent full time at Cornwall College,with 15 weeks of work experience at the shipyard, learning about all the yard trades and gaining an understanding of other parts of the business before going on to specialize at the beginning of the second year. Over the next three years,the apprentices study relevant qualifications through day release, balancing training and practical experience.
Progress is measured through regular assessment, and by gaining nationally recognized qualifications. By the time the course is completed, apprentices are at least at National Vocational Qualification Level 3 in their chosen trade, and many go on to higher qualifications. All take the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and have the chance to learn to sail, take RYA qualifications and carry out community work.
The apprenticeship scheme has cost the company some £1.5 million in apprentice wages, as well as the cost of the time employees spend teaching. The investment has produced a stream of highly skilled trades people, some of whom have progressed to roles including project manager, supervisor and engineering lead-hand.
More than 80 percent of the 110 people recruited through the course in the last decade have completed it successfully. Today, apprentices make up almost one-fifth of the company’s 282-strong workforce.
In 2005, a second apprenticeship, the surface-finishing scheme, was launched to supply the yacht-finishing talent Pendennis needs in order to guarantee a top-class paint job on its yachts. A post-apprenticeship course now exists to fast-track potential managers.
The scheme has won local, national and international recognition, including a National Training Award.
Henk Wiekens commented: “The fact that we invest so heavily in new trades people for ourselves, and ultimately for the industry, often gives us a boost in the sales-negotiating process when up against our competitors.”
Pendennis Shipyard was founded in 1988, with a contract to build the 125ft ketch Taramber. Since then it has built or refitted more than 100 motor and sailing yachts.
