Oyster Yachts opens UK apprenticeship academy to ensure future skilled worker supply

In a move to help ensure enough new skilled employees in the future, UK shipyard Oyster Yachts has formally launched its Oyster Apprenticeship Academy, building on the company’s existing long-established apprenticeship schemes. This new initiative coincides with the UK’s National Apprenticeship Week.

Oyster Apprenticeship Academy will allow the luxury yacht builder to increase the number of apprentices it hires and adapt the programmes to ensure people have the right skills for the future. The company has partnered with Southampton City College and Norwich City College, the two colleges closest to Oyster’s main manufacturing sites in Southampton and Wroxham.

Under the Oyster scheme, the academy will provide support from initial recruitment and interviewing through to a final graduation for up to 18 apprentices annually - 10 at Oyster Yachts in Wroxham (Norfolk) and eight at the company’s Southampton facility.

“We are keen to continue to encourage people to join Oyster’s team of master craftspeople,” said Bazil Figura, training and development officer, who is leading the Oyster Apprenticeship Academy. “We have a team of mentors that work with apprentices on their professional development, so that they are able to learn from the time-honoured craftspeople that work at Oyster.”

He added, “The training at our Oyster facilities will complement and enhance classroom learning and ensure that skills and knowledge are transferred from classroom theory to manufacturing knowledge. The academy will also provide support in personal development with additional training to develop core skills.”

At the end of each apprenticeship, the academy offers a pragmatic plan, where the team at Oyster Yachts will continue to support and work alongside newly qualified apprentices during their first year of employment.

“Our objective with the Oyster Apprenticeship Academy is simple – as a company we are committed to ensuring that we develop and grow the skills that are inherent in British boatbuilding and in this way, we can ensure that these talents continue for generations to come,” said Oyster owner and CEO, Richard Hadida.

“I’m passionate about the time-honoured boatbuilding crafts and recognise Oyster’s reliance on them, so sustaining these artisan skills is a priority. Through the academy, we can encourage young talent into the business and help shape their skills so that sailors will always be able to experience the world’s finest bluewater sailing yachts.”

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