Skills, careers & diversity
49% percent of people between 18-24 living in coastal areas plan on moving away with jobs cited as the overwhelming reason. 70% said they would be more likely to stay if the right careers opportunities were made available, (Survation 2021).
Regional maritime employers site lack of skills as the major barrier to growing their business and yet young people, their parents and careers leads are unaware of the range of careers available on their doorsteps.
To solve this problem Maritime UK South West has set up a partnership project working with four Further Education Colleges, three Universities, business, careers leads and schools to make young people and career changers more aware of the exciting and rewarding opportunities in the sector.
The Maritime sector is one of the largest in the SW and is worth £4 billion to the regional economy, with higher than average salaries and skills that enable employees choice and to work around the globe, often while positively impacting the environment and climate change.
Globally the sector is set to triple in size by 2050 to 3.5 trillion dollars. In the SW the sector is expanding also, for example in the next 10 years offshore wind is predicted to create 5,000 new varied jobs and on top of this a further 7,500 required to service the UK submarine replacement program. From working at sea or in a port, to working as a maritime lawyer, to cleaning the oceans of plastics or designing a superyacht, maritime is big business, adding more to the economy than both rail and aviation combined.
The South West needs the next generation of innovators and problem solvers to join the industry and help shape the future of our region. There are lots of different routes into a career in maritime, including a university qualification via college or an apprenticeship.