CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
“On my first day, I was told that once you join the industry, you’ll never leave, and that was 17 years ago! Since then, I have work for some phenomenal brands with operations across the world, including marinas, clothing, interior design and manufacturing. I now work for British Marine, the trade association for the leisure marine, superyacht and small commercial industries and organiser of Southampton International Boat Show, the UK’s national boat show. From design, engineering, manufacturing, operations, and project management, to marketing, sales, HR and accountancy, our industry offers a wide and diverse range of career opportunities. However, what really sets our industry apart is the opportunity to work with a community of passionate, friendly and supportive people, who love what they do. And that is why many people choose never to leave.”
Adrien Burnand Head of Marketing & Communications at British MarineHere are just some of the roles and careers within the leisure marine industry:
Creates and designs concepts for all types of boats, from small personal craft to large superyachts.
Plans all parts of the boat from the outward appearance to complex ventilation systems.
- Best bit: Seeing your creations take shape.
- Salary: £25,000-£70,000.
- Qualifications: Advanced training in engineering, drafting and computer-aided design is required plus a marine design or engineering degree.
- Experience required: Relevant experience and related degree.
- Qualities: Imaginative, ability to work with computer software, attention to detail,
- mathematical, hand drawing techniques with a creative flair.
- Also consider: Marine engineer, Interior designer, Draughtsman.
Leads and manages a project from start to finish, overseeing the build or refitting of a vessel. Manages staff, subcontractors and constantly liaises with the owner.
- Best bit: Bringing the project to successful completion.
- Salary: £30,000-£55,000
- Qualifications: Advanced training in engineering and project management is required.
- Experience required: Relevant project management experience and related degree.
- Qualities: Organised, relationship builder, planner, mathematical, ability to delegate, leads by example and customer-focused.
- Also consider: Purchasing Manager, Engineering Manager.
Builds and repairs all types of boats, from small personal craft to large superyachts. Experienced boat builders may also design vessels or assist naval architects.
- Best bit: Top quality tool kit.
- Salary: £24,000-£45,000.
- Qualifications: Advanced training in boatbuilding is required. 5+ GCSEs A*- C to include Maths and English plus resistant materials or relevant science, City & Guilds Level 3 Boat Building.
- Experience required: Relevant experience, apprenticeship or degree.
- Qualities: Good hand skills, attention to detail, mathematical, focused, motivated, ability to listen and take instruction.
- Also consider: Marine Engineer, Shipwright, Joiner, Laminator.
Responsible for installation and repair of onboard electrical, environmental and propulsion systems focusing primarily on internal systems.
- Best bit: Playing with engines.
- Salary: £25,000-£45,000.
- Qualifications: 5+ GCSEs A*- C to include Maths and English plus resistant materialsor relevant science, City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 in Marine Engineering, NVQ Level 2 & 3 in Marine Engineering.
- Experience required: Relevant experience, apprenticeship or degree.
- Qualities: Practical, problem solving, mathematical, technical flair, clear focus with a good work ethic.
- Also consider: Marine Electrical Engineer, Boatbuilder, Ships Engineer, Sales Engineer, Flotilla Engineer, Superyacht Engineer.
Responsible for installing, maintaining, servicing and repairing all electrical and electronics systems.
Electronic Engineers study, design and oversee production of electronic equipment.
- Best bit: Lots of cool gadgets.
- Salary: £25,000-£45,000.
- Qualifications: 5+ GCSEs A*- C to include Maths and English plus a technology or relevant science, City & Guilds Level 2 & 3 in Marine Engineering (Marine Electrical), NVQ Level 2 & 3 in Marine Engineering (Marine Electrical). BMET & NMEA Qualifications.
- Experience required: Relevant experience, apprenticeship or degree.
- Qualities: Methodical, problem solver, clear focus, technical flair with a good work ethic.
- Also consider: Marine Electrician, V Sat Engineer.
Inspects and examines boats and equipment on board to report on their condition. This can be in line with the sale of a yacht or following damage for an insurance claim.
- Best bit: Get to work on a variety of boats.
- Salary: £25,000-£55,000.
- Qualifications: A degree in Yacht Production and Surveying or other relevant course.
- Experience required: Strong technical understanding of construction of yachts. Usually degree level qualified.
- Qualities: Attention to detail, methodical approach, ability to build relationships and create reports.
- Also consider: Project Manager, Naval Architect.
Manages the marina, operations and employees, ensuring the smooth running of all aspects of the marina.
- Best bit: Working outside.
- Salary: £40,000-£65,000.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of facilities management, usually degree level qualified. A Certified Marina Manager’s qualification is desirable.
- Experience required: Relevant experience or working your way up, an understanding of boats and marina users will be useful.
- Qualities: Ability to lead and multi task, good with people, ability to delegate, good planner and customer focused.
- Also consider: Harbour Master, Dock Master, Facilities Manager.
Sells new and second-hand boats on behalf of an owner. Finds potential buyers and manages the entire sale, earning a commission from the owner.
- Best bit: Will be in, on or around boats all the time.
- Salary: £30,000-£60,000.
- Qualifications: Sales training, specific broker qualifications.
- Experience required: A good understanding of boats, good sales skills, excellent customer service skills.
- Qualities: Good with people, selling skills, understanding customer needs with the ability to negotiate.
- Also consider: Charter Broker, New Boat Sales Executive.
Works with the owner of the boat to find them the best insurance price possible in the event they need to make a claim if the boat gets damaged or stolen.
- Best bit: Get to talk about boats all day.
- Salary: £30,000-£50,000 (Basic + Commission).
- Qualifications: Insurance related qualifications.
- Experience required: A good understanding of boats with strong sales & negotiation skills.
- Qualities: Understanding customer needs, analytical researcher with ability to communicate advice effectively.
- Also consider: Loss Adjustor, Insurance Executive.
Sells products and parts that maintain all types of vessels to boat owners.
A marine trade sales manager could work all over the UK or overseas visiting customers to increase sales using a sales plan to achieve ambitious sales and profit targets.
- Best bit: Can sell a large range of boat products at any one time.
- Salary: £30,000-£50,000 (Basic + Commission).
- Qualifications: Relevant sales qualifications.
- Experience required: Good sales skills, good technical knowledge of products.
- Qualities: Selling skills, good negotiator, people person, attention to details, enjoys travel with a good customer focus.
- Also consider: Sales Executive, Sales Director, Account Manager, Chandlery Manager.
In charge of the yacht and all the crew for all types of boats, from flotilla and charter yachts to large superyachts and commercial vessels.
- Best bit: In charge of the vessel and travel.
- Salary: £37,000 - £230,000.
- Qualifications: RYA Yachtmaster (Commercially Endorsed), MCA Master 200 – MCA Master 3000, BML Tier 1 & Tier 2.
- Experience required: Dependent on the size & type of vessel, you will need a combination of qualifications and time at sea, building up your practical experience.
- Qualities: Effective leader, ability to communicate, practical mind, excellent customer service, good problem solver who enjoys travel.
- Also consider: Passenger Boat Skipper, Delivery Skipper, Yacht Instructor, Deck Officer.
Teaching sail and power skills to children and adults of all abilities in the UK or overseas, including running RYA courses.
- Best bit: Seeing your students improve and working in stunning locations.
- Salary: £24,000 - £27,000 as a chief instructor.
- Qualifications: RYA Dinghy Instructor, RYA Start Windsurfing Instructor, BCU UKCC Level 2 Coach, RYA Powerboat Instructor, RYA Yachtmaster, RYA Cruising Instructor, Inland crew & helmsman’s instructor.
- Experience required: None, but any other teaching or instructing experience will help.
- Qualities: Patience, ability to communicate effectively, considerate, imaginative, gives instruction effectively, friendly with a good work ethic.
- Also consider: Waterfront Assistant, Waterfront/Beach Manager, Sail Training, Flotilla Skipper.