Cornish boatbuilder Cockwells is offering learners aged 16 and over the opportunity to enrol on its new boatbuilding apprenticeship shceme.
In partnership with Cornwall Marine Network, the Mylor-based company will provide a new City and Guilds Level 3 Boatbuilder Apprenticeship scheme. It will be the only one of its kind in the Duchy and aimed at individuals who want to gain skills and knowledge to embark on a career in boatbuilding.
The inaugural cohort will commence training on November 20. Delivered over 48 months, learning will initially take place at the Cockwells’ satellite facility that is situated on the former Vospers site in Ponsharden.
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Cornwall Marine Network’s boatbuilding programme manager, Amy Stringfellow explained: "As a City and Guilds accredited delivery partner and assessor for the Level 3 Boatbuilding Apprenticeship qualification, we have worked closely with Cockwells’ managers to curate curriculum content that will enable learners to gain skills across production, manufacturing, service and construction.
“During the first three weeks, the Apprentices will undertake joinery exercises, fibreglass wet layup and machinery competency, and learn about boat and engineering technology, product uses and materials, and health and safety, to build confidence and help them hit the ground running when they transfer to the workplace. During our weekly Friday sessions, we will look closely at the marine sector as a whole and understand the theory that underpins it.”
This qualification is designed to introduce Apprentices to the full range of career opportunities that are available to them within the wider boatbuilding and marine sector, from project manager, lecturer, assessor and marine/electrical engineer, to naval architect, paint sprayer, laminator, joiner or boatyard operative.
Cockwells’ founder and managing director, Dave Cockwell added: "We are proud to be delivering high-quality apprenticeship training in partnership with Cornwall Marine Network and offering fantastic opportunities for enthusiastic individuals to join our highly skilled team of craftsmen and women as Apprentice Boatbuilders.
“Through this scheme, Apprentices will not only acquire all the practical skills they need to become multi-talented boatbuilders. They will also learn how to transform production plans and concept drawings into reality. As Cockwells Modern and Classic Boatbuilding continues to expand, the need for highly- skilled craftsmen and women increases."
He continued: “This collaboration with Cornwall Marine Network will create a pipeline of talented individuals that we can nurture and employ. By working together, we can ensure that Cornwall’s reputation for boatbuilding excellence is retained and sustained for the future. As a proudly Cornish employer, we are passionate about sharing our artisan craftsmanship and experience of technological innovation and advanced engineering with the next generation of boatbuilders, so this is an exciting project for the company and for Cornwall.”
