The Shipwrights' Company Apprenticeship Scheme
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights' Apprenticeship Scheme encourages small businesses in the marine sector to train apprentices and harks back to the founding principles of the company. To date, with the support of our generous corporate benefactors and individual donors, we have funded 104 marine SMEs enabling them to employ 122 apprentices.

- Are you a modern, progressive SME marine business?
- Do you want your company to flourish and prosper?
- Is your ambition to build a business that is sustainable and ‘future proofed’?
- Yes? Then marine apprenticeships are ideal for you!
An apprentice can bring new ideas, new ways of working, and with their enthusiasm and spirit can energise and reinvigorate an organisation from top to bottom…
What marine apprenticeships are available?
New apprenticeship standards have been developed in Marine Engineering, Boatbuilder and Marina and Boatyard Operative. Fresh standards in Marine Electrician are also under development. These new standards are all set at level 3 which is equivalent to two ‘A’ levels. This means a marine apprenticeship programme is now more challenging than ever before, attracting talented young people who are ready to meet the demands of a modern marine business like yours. Standards are also reviewed regularly to ensure they are still relevant to the fast-changing needs of the sector. In academic year 2019-20, we also funded for the first time our first Workboat Crewmember Apprentices at level 3, working for a commerical marine organisation. In 2020-21 we will also begin funding the new Boatmaster apprenticeship standard for commercial operators on the Thames and elsewhere. A very exciting development!
What are apprenticeship standards?
Standards are designed and written by a group of representative employers and not solely by academics. They outline the knowledge, skills and behaviours that a role requires. Because they are designed by employers from the sector, they are relevant, contemporary, and designed to be ‘fit for purpose’ for your business. Under these new standards, the apprentice is now independently assessed at the end of their training. Therefore, their final grade is awarded in an impartial and objective way – just as with all other qualifications. Standards are also reviewed regularly to ensure they are still relevant to the fast changing needs of the sector.
The Shipwrights Company bursaries and how they can help…
Established in 2014, and supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, the Baltic Exchange Charitable Foundation and other donors, the Shipwrights company has been offering grants to approximately 20 employers a year to financially support an apprentice in their first year. The initial year is often the most financially difficult for an employer when recruiting a new apprentice - and at the Shipwrights we understand the pressures on an SME business. The bursary is only open to SMEs businesses who do not pay into, or benefit from, the apprenticeship levy.
What other help is available?
Your dedicated scheme manager will:
- Help you with the ‘end to end’ application process
- Refer you to a training provider that can meet your needs
- Advise on managing an apprenticeship programme from recruitment to graduation
- Provide information, advice and guidance on apprenticeship standards
- Signpost you to further training opportunities through our partners at British Marine….and so much more!
- Interested in applying or just finding our more....
- Then contact our dedicated bursary scheme manager at sascheme@shipwrights.co.uk
Lloyd's Register Foundation
The Lloyd's Register Foundation's strategy for 2014-2020 focuses funding on four strategic themes: promoting safety and public understanding of risk; advancing skills and education; supporting excellent scientific research, and accelerating the application of research. The Shipwright's Apprenticeship Scheme satisfies the second of these strategic themes; advancing skills and education. For more information on the LR Foundation, the projects they fund, and how to apply and get involved click on their website logo below.
Apprentice Case Studies
2021-22 apprentices (mid year reports)
Ashlee Barrell - Cox's Boatyard - Mid year report
Bradley Drinkwater - Cotswold Boats - Mid year report
Casey Bruty-Holloran - Woods River Cruises - Mid year report
Craig Johnstone - DDZ - Mid year report
Jack Pearce - Zenith Marine - Mid year report
Josh Allsopp - Smith's Boatyard - Mid year report
Owen Freeman - Jenkins Marine - Mid year report
Theo Aers - Servowatch Systems - Mid year report
Tom Lewis - Peninsula Marine - Mid year report
Tom Lewis - Dinghy restoration project- Peninsula Marine
2020-21 apprentices
Ben Hodder - Honnor Marine - Case study
Ellis Bell - Spencer Rigging - Case study (The Simon Kverndal sponsored apprentice)
Harvey Sainsbury - TLC Refit and Repair - Case study
Jamie Lorimer - Pharos Offshore - Case study (North P&I sponsored apprentice)
Jay Walsh - Aquamare Marine - Case study
Matt Jones-Hughes - Aquamare Marine - Case study
Shay George - Aquamare Marine - Case study
Toby Poultney - Marcus Lewis Boatbuilder - Case study
Thom Dyer - Island RIBs - Case study
Will Tewson - Rob Perry Marine- Case study (Stelios Philanthropic Foundation sponsored apprentice)
2019-20 apprentices
Charlie Hawkins - RWO Marine Equipment - Case study
David Patterson - Butlers Wooden Boats - Case study
Edel McCarthy - Scottish Maritime Museum - Case study
Eleanor Margetts - Pioneer Sailing - Case study
Jacob Penaluna - Triskel Marine - Case study
Jacob Roach - Will Squibb Boats - Case study
James Stacey - Morgan Marine - Case study (Stelios Philanthropic Foundation sponsored apprentice)
Josh Rutter - Marshall Marine - Case study
Ollie Boosey - Elite Sailing - Case study
Owen Hughes - Oarsome Chance - Case study
Philip Kinrade - Ramsey Shipping - Case study
Toby Poultney - Marcus Lewis Boatbuilder - Case study
Ryan Salmon -Vasi Southern - Case study
Simon Styles-Burgess - Northshore Shipyard - Case study
2018-19 apprentices
Daniel Hewett - Energy Solutions - Case study
Jack Sullivan - Cockwells - Case study
Luke Symonds - Oarsome Chance - Case study
Matt Brown - Northshore Shipyard - Case study
Michael Dyer - Northshore Shipyard - Case study
Michael Callen - United Marine Services - Case study
Nick Mason - X Yachts - Case study
Patrick Conway - Servowatch - Case study
Sion Eccles - West Coast Marine - Case study
Tom Dickinson - Kings Boatyard - Case study
A selection of case studies from earlier years of our Apprenticeship Scheme
Adam Smith - R Cann & Son - Case study
Ben Manning - Cotswold Boat Hire - Case study
Bradley Grundy - Rice and Cole - Case study
Callum Ransley - Gosport Ferry - Case study
Callum Courtney - Herbert Woods - Case study
Chris Hyland - Energy Solutions - Case study
Jake Ross - Overwater Marina - Case study
Joe Boothby - Blyth Tall Ships - Case study
Lewis Martin - Church Minshull - Case study
Lewis Wilde - Island RIBs - Case study
Owen Garbutt - Romica Engineering - Case study
Owen Reed - Krueger - Case study
Patrick Conway - Servowatch - Case study
Sam Hicks - Blackwater Barge - Case study
Read the latest news on the Shipwrights' Apprenticeship Scheme
Zenith Marine Services and their apprentice both win prestigious awards…
The ‘Nautical Group’ exhibit at the London Careers Festival
2022 Annual Shipwrights’ Lectures – 19 October
Apprentice Ashlee Barrell, outstanding Marine Engineer in the making…
Apprentice Theo Aers at the leading edge of automation technology at Servowatch in Essex.
Apprentice Ben Hodder excelling at Honnor Marine, in Dorset.
Tweets from @ShipApprentices
Jack Pearce, one of our 2021-22 sponsored apprentices, employed at Zenith Marine Services in Plymouth, recently won second place in the 'Apprentice of the Year' category @sdcollege 'Apprenticeship Awards' event. Zenith won 'Best New Employer' of the year. A fantastic result! 👏
2...and here are some more snaps of the Secondary School day and also the Primary school day at the #Londoncareersfestival...
4An excellent two days spent at the #Londoncareersfestical, hosted by the London Guildhall. Here are a selection of photos from the event. Tuesday 28th was for Secondary school pupils...
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