British yard wins award for investing in youth

Berthon owner and managing director Brian May picked up the Best Apprenticeship and Training Scheme award at the 2016 Boat Builder Awards on 17 November 2016, held in Amsterdam. Judges praised his ‘commitment and passion’ to give the next generation opportunities to succeed in the British marine industry.

‘Berthon has won a few local and national awards in the last seven years,’ said May, ‘but this international award, given by marine industry peers, was a truly humbling experience.’

Berthon’s yard manager Keith Longman shares the award with his team of apprentices

Keith Longman, Yard Manager at Berthon, added ‘A vocational apprenticeship provides a viable and equal opportunity to complete Further Education, while earning wages, learning a skill and offering promotional prospects.’

The award also recognised the £1.5m of funding raised by Berthon to encourage small and medium sized marine companies to follow suit. Since 2009, over 100 apprentice first year wages have been paid in 50 companies with over half of those companies choosing to employ a further apprentice within 2-3 years. The scheme is now run by the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights and is open to applications.

The British yard was shortlisted alongside companies from the USA, Finland, Poland, Italy, France and Holland and, while Sunseeker and Pendennis received honorable mentions for their youth policies, it was Berthon that took the award.

From January 2017, Berthon will be recruiting for new apprentices to start in September 2017. Those interested in a career in the marine industry can apply here.