This year’s fourth Shipwrights’ Lecture for marine apprentices, young shipwrights and marine graduates will be held at the Turner Sims Hall, University of Southampton, on Wednesday, October 15, at 14.30. This annual lecture attracts over 270 delegates to listen to inspirational industry leaders from the marine sector talk about their specialist aspect of the industry, comprising its breadth as well as career opportunities.
Shipwright Lectures 2013
The UK hosts an internationally recognised leisure marine industry of some 35,000 employees with 1,400 companies generating £3 billion pa of which some 30% is export. Positive economic news in the UK has seen a growing order book after the difficulties of the past 5 years. Orders are picking up at all levels. The annual Shipwrights’ Lectures provide a unique opportunity for young people in training to hear speakers with international recognition in their fields.
The event, which is organised by the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, in conjunction with the University of Southampton, last year attracted apprentices from a host of well-known British boatbuilders including Princess, Sunseeker, Pendennis, Fairline, Discovery Yachts, SYS, Berthon, Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy and Rustler Yachts. UK universities, colleges and industry bodies including the British Marine Federation will again be supporting the 2014 lecture.
Speakers for the 2014 event will include, award-winning Gerry Hughes, the first profoundly deaf person to sail single-handed around the world. Gerry received the RYA Sailability Personal Endeavour Award for his 32,000 mile circumnavigation via the Five Great Capes in Quest III, his Beneteau 42s7. The Endeavour Award, which was created in Gerry’s honour, acknowledges inspirational sailors who have overcome adversity.
This year’s event will also see Matt Sheahan, Yachting World’s Technical Editor, host a panel discussion entitled, ‘Marine Electronics – ‘Past, Present and the Future’ – Electronics, Electrics and related power management requirements on board yachts, both sail and power’.
The aim of the Shipwrights Lecture is to inform, inspire and show apprentices and students how careers in the immensely wide-ranging marine industry can develop from learning skills in engineering, laminating, wiring, joinery and outfitting to design, naval architecture and management. Attendance is free for apprentices nominated by their employers and young people under the age of 25 who are studying in the marine sector. Each apprentice receives a certificate of attendance.
Michael Derrick, Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights has been instrumental in organising the Shipwrights Lectures together with fellow Liverymen James Grazebrook, and Sarah Fraser.
Michael Derrick commented, “We are delighted that so many employers have been bringing their apprentices for several years and that the annual Shipwrights Lectures have become a permanent fixture in their training calendar. The comments below from last year’s event are indicative of the importance of this lecture programme.”
“The Shipwrights’ lecture is now an extremely important part of our apprentices’ development and it continues to enrich their programme, their development and the reputation of our own apprentice scheme,” Alex Bowman, Training Manager of Sunseeker International.
“I was truly impressed by the lectures and all the Pendennis apprentices that attended felt that the speakers were most inspirational,” Mike Carr, Joint Managing Director Pendennis.
