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UK government hands out £1M funding for seafarer recruitment and training
Britain’s maritime and port sector has been given a financial boost from the UK government to recruit and train the next generation of seafarers
Coastal communities around the UK have been offered finance from central government to invest in seafarer recruitment, education, training and skills to encourage more people into the sector.
Nine maritime clusters across the UK will receive a share of government funding, to total £1.0M (US$1.3M), to help vessel owners, managers and ports to increase their workforce and retrain existing employees.
“By investing in our excellent maritime clusters, we can deliver jobs, skills and training for local communities and turbocharge growth by delivering investment into the sector,” said UK government’s maritime minister Mike Kane.
Maritime UK has worked with the Department for Transport for more than six years to raise investment in these clusters.
“I look forward to seeing all of our maritime clusters thrive and create those vital jobs and growth where they’re needed most,” said Mr Shirling-Rooke.
Cornwall’s marine network will get the most from this fund, £124,100, to create a business tool for small and medium enterprises to improve productivity, profitability and job creation.
In Tees, the £117,000 fund will enable the cluster to run maritime training and careers events for hundreds of schoolchildren and thousands of school leavers, students and job seekers.
Mr Shirling-Rooke thinks this will help upskill young people looking to enter the maritime sector as well as those looking to transition careers, ultimately encouraging people into maritime.
Maritime UK South-West will receive £85,000 to establish four innovation hubs and run five school and college events reaching an estimated 500 people, again supporting and feeding the maritime jobs of the future.
Other clusters offered money include: Humber Marine & Renewables (£85,000), Short Straits (£85,000), Mersey Maritime (£100,000), Northern Ireland Maritime & Offshore (£100,000), Scottish Maritime (£85,000), Maritime UK South-West (£85,000) and Maritime UK Solent (£85,000).
Maritime UK also received a grant of £135,000 for administrating these grants for the Department of Transport. This organisation will welcome new chairman Tom Boardley in January 2025.
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