In order to offer tomorrow’s yacht crew both professional knowledge as well as recognised academic qualifications, UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship Programme has gained UCAS accreditation for its FD (Foundation Degree) in Operational Yacht Science. Run in partnership with The University of Plymouth and Falmouth Marine School, the new UCAS accreditation represents a unique development within an already highly successful training programme for the Isle of Wight based youth charity.
UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship Programme gains UCAS accreditation
The superyacht sector has seen major advances in yacht design, vessel production and new technology over the past decade. But perhaps one of the biggest and most welcome developments right across the industry has been around the professionalisation of crew training. The introduction of UKSA’s UCAS accreditation to the existing FD degree level qualification is a positive and natural progression of those developments. Gone are the days of enthusiastic backpackers and amateur yachties walking the jetties looking for seasonal work. Recent changes to maritime legislation and much higher standards of maritime safety now require entry level yacht crew to have successfully completed a raft of qualifications including full medicals, sea survival training, fire fighting and first aid as bare minimum.
In the future and without exception, anyone potentially in command of, or serving as a member of crew aboard superyachts, typically costing €100 million plus, will require the highest standards of training and qualification. These qualifications together with the required amounts of sea time will only increase as individuals move up the ranks. Therefore, the modern day yachtie needs to consider a long-term development plan if they are to achieve a successful career.
There are certainly no more fast track routes to the bridge. Students wishing to pursue a career in the superyacht sector will continue to find the investment of time, money and hard work enormously rewarding. However, whilst the qualifications and skills gained within the superyacht industry are still often misunderstood or undervalued in the mainstream job market, the combination of professional cadet training and the degree qualification could soon change all that. With UCAS accreditation students will now have the advantage of being able to apply for student loans. In addition those interested in gaining a place on the cadetship programme can access bursaries and sponsorship to help support them during their studies.
Emma Baggett, Cadetship Manager at UKSA, said “This is the first time a yacht training establishment has been able to provide crew with a UCAS accredited degree qualification to back-up traditional maritime tickets. Our aim is not only to equip yacht crew with the skills and knowledge required to work on a superyacht, but also to provide them with the academic foundations for a life outside of yachting.”
Mark Upton, Director at MGMT Yacht, the London based superyacht consultancy firm said, “This is fantastic news for the luxury yacht industry. Young crew who are looking for a professional career path will now have an outstanding opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification that will not only reinforce their career path but also offer a transferable qualification for later life. We strongly support this initiative from UKSA.’
