18 September 2024

by British Marine

The Southampton International Boat Show was the epicentre of celebration yesterday (Tuesday 17 September), as the marine industry's brightest young talents were honoured at the Apprentice Recognition Ceremony and the winner of the inaugural British Marine Apprentice of the Year Award was revealed.

Sixty-three apprentices from leading marine companies were recognised during the morning’s ceremony, before Anisha Roberts, who is in her 3rd year of the L3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship Standard with Williams Jet Tenders, was crowned Apprentice of the Year.

"I am honoured to have won the inaugural British Marine ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award. This is an incredible opportunity, and I am deeply grateful for the support from the entire Williams Jet Tenders team, as well as my friends and family who have been instrumental in helping me reach this point. Being based in landlocked Oxfordshire, away from traditional boat-building hubs, Williams rely on training, upskilling, and nurturing local talent, so to help them to receive recognition for this is particularly special”, commented Anisha.

"Firstly congratulations to all our nominees, we had some outstanding entries which made it a very difficult decision for the judges. However, Anisha's journey is truly inspirational, and she embodies the qualities of a role model and trailblazer”, commented Manj Mahey, Head of Training at British Marine.

“Her determination to pursue a new career in engineering while balancing family responsibilities is a testament to her resilience and passion. She has broken barriers and shown that age, gender, and personal circumstances are not obstacles but stepping stones to success. Anisha’s story will undoubtedly inspire many to chase their dreams, and we are incredibly proud to honour her as the first-ever Apprentice of the Year”, Manj added.

Jasmine Kundra, from BBC’s The Apprentice, who led the proceedings, also shared her insights on success, framed by the theme of ‘thinking differently’, alongside inspiring speeches from British Marine President Robert Parton and Able Seaman Angel Collar, who detailed her own apprenticeship journey.

“Recognising the achievements of this group of apprentices is a proud moment for the entire marine industry. Apprenticeships are a vital pipeline for future talent, and this award shines a spotlight on the exceptional dedication, skills, and promise shown by young professionals across the sector”, commented Robert Parton, President of British Marine.

The day continued with the highly anticipated Careers and Apprenticeship Evening, where some 50 career-seekers of all ages connected with leading marine industry companies and training providers. With 15 companies participating, 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, and SeaRegs Training, Royal Navy, Warsash Maritime School, Rockley Watersports, RoboSys and CECA NextGen, attendees had the opportunity to receive guidance on their career paths and learn about apprenticeships and job openings.

Anna Jacob, Growth and Retention Executive for the Tall Ships Youth Trust, shared: “We’re here not only to engage with young people but also to connect with others in the marine industry. We all share a common goal - to help young people reach where they need and want to be. This has been a fantastic event. I’ve had the chance to speak with individuals about joining us for a fun voyage aboard one of our Tall Ships, as well as with those interested in apprenticeships, offering them an alternative to the traditional classroom route.”

Sixteen-year-old Leo from Southampton, one of the event’s attendees, shared his thoughts: “I’m studying IT, which is such a huge industry, and events like this really help you figure out which area you might want to focus on. It’s been incredibly helpful in guiding me toward something I’d like to pursue. I’m leaving with a lot of valuable information about my next steps after college and the types of jobs I want to explore.”

Lesley Robinson, CEO of British Marine, added: "This year's Apprentice Recognition Ceremony, our first ever Apprentice of the Year Award and the Careers Evening were all inspiring showcases of the exceptional talent and opportunities that exist within the marine sector.

“From the talent on display during the apprentice awards to the strong interest in our careers evening, it’s clear that the marine industry has an exciting and dynamic future ahead. We are committed to nurturing and supporting the next generation of marine professionals, and events like these are crucial for building those foundations."

In addition to these events, the show also welcomed over 1,000 school children who participated in hands-on activities such as sailing and paddleboarding, explored cutting-edge exhibits from the University of Southampton, giving them firsthand experience of the marine industry’s innovation and career potential and some got to meet Captain Ted Funnel.

For more information about training and career opportunities in the marine sector, visit www.britishmarine.co.uk/training

Congratulations to all our apprentices:

Forename	Surname	Organisation	Apprenticeship
Aidan	Hinchliffe	Berthon Boat Company Ltd	Marine Engineering
Emma	Humphrey	Berthon Boat Company Ltd	Marine Engineering
Cameron	Ford	Berthon Boat Company Ltd	Shipwright
Glen	Corbin	Berthon Boat Company Ltd	Shipwright
Aiden	Heathfield	Berthon Boat Company Ltd	Shipwright
Samuel	Johnstone	Berthon Boat Company Ltd	Shipwright
Josh	Boneham	Oyster Yachts Ltd	Boat Building
Oliver	Rose	Oyster Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Michael	Callen	Oyster Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Brooke	Beveridge	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Kieran	Burley-Brown	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Jack	Carpenter	Princess Yachts Ltd	Composites Technician
Bailey	Chubb	Princess Yachts Ltd	Business Administration
Harry	Derbyshire	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Roman	Foster	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
James	Grigg	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Daniel	Hart	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Callum	Haydon	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Tyler	Higgins	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Finley	Holmes	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Owen	Kempe	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Alfie	Libby	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Aiden	McCarthy	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Oliver	McLean	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Cameron	Neville	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Sam	Prince	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Ace	Richardson	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Harvey	Short	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Taylor	Smith	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Edward	Stroud	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Joseph	Symons	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Karl	Taylor	Princess Yachts Ltd	Composites Technician
Harvey	Teague	Princess Yachts Ltd	Carpentry Boat Builder
Freya	Wood	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Max	Woolcock	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Oliver	Carter	Princess Yachts Ltd	Marine Engineering
Curtis	Winters	Princess Yachts Ltd	Payroll Administration
Emily	Bance	Princess Yachts Ltd	Business Administration
Lucy	Wood	Princess Yachts Ltd	Business Administration
Molly	Mae-Brock	Princess Yachts Ltd	Business Administration
Ava	Cousins	Premier Marinas Ltd	Marina & Boatyard
Albi	Paris	Premier Marinas Ltd	Marina & Boatyard
Lewis	Jones	Premier Marinas Ltd	Marina & Boatyard
Robbie	Ashworth	Premier Marinas Ltd	Marina & Boatyard
Michael	Monaghan	Premier Marinas Ltd	Marina & Boatyard
Will	Kilpatrick	Premier Marinas Ltd	Marina & Boatyard
Christopher	Fowles	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Morgan	Sommerseth	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Christopher	Street	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Oakley	Higham	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Ross	Williams	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Kyle	Wood	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Morgan	Elliott	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Harry	Beechey	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Harry	Long	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
William	Kavanagh	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Sydney	Fassam	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
George	Harwood	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Bence	Buda	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Alexander	Arpino	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Harry	Watts	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
Connor	Chabaani	Sunseeker International Ltd	Marine Electrical
James	Freeman	Platinum Marine	Marine Electrical

 

About Southampton International Boat Show

The Southampton International Boat Show is the UK's largest boating and water sports festival, celebrating everything boating. Alongside hundreds of exhibitors and incredible boats and watercraft of all shapes and sizes, the show offers a unique blend of family entertainment, retail opportunities, and live music, making it an unmissable event in the marine calendar.

Get your ticket

Tickets for the Boat Show can be purchased online at www.southamptonboatshow.com/visitor-information/tickets/

You can also make a donation to this year’s show charity when purchasing your tickets.  This year we are delighted to be working with the Southampton Hospitals Charity and their Light the South art trail to raise funds for Southampton Children's Hospital, one of the top children's hospitals in the UK. Your donation will help transform the facilities and hospital experience for young patients, deliver vital support for families and continue life-changing research to keep your children's hospital truly world class.

Want to make your visit extra special?  Treat yourself with our Quayside Club package – https://www.southamptonboatshow.com/vip/

The show is open from 10am – 6pm daily except on the final Sunday when the show will close at 5pm.  The Shipyard will remain open until 9pm on both Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 September.

Visit the website www.southamptonboatshow.com or follow our social channels for all the latest show updates.