British based SunseekerInternational is hiring a record intake of apprentices in 2016, with 14 being recruited to join the team in Portland and a further 26 to the team in Poole.
These 40 new juniors will bring the total number of apprentices to over 100 – the highest number of apprentices the yacht builder has hired to date.
The builder is taking advantage a of the British government’s apprenticeship scheme and helps to provide many international and domestic career opportunities, with many senior managers developing from the programme.
The government’s aim is to reach 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020 and with the help from employers in the UK, the number of apprenticeship starts in 2014/2015 stood at 871,800, with an increase of 74% in the engineering and manufacturing sector.
There are four different specialisms at Sunseeker for the 40 apprentices to choose from, including Composite Boat Builders, Carpentry Boat Builders, Marine Electricians and Marine Engineers.
The apprentices will play a pivotal role on the production lines of the iconic yacht range, from the 48ft San Remo through to the brand’s flagship 155ft superyacht, learning traditional shipwright methods to loft and construct boats from wood, as well as installing a wide variety of mechanical and electrical systems such as hydraulic circuits and stunning audio and visual systems.
Sunseeker has recognised the benefits of developing apprentices since 1979 and works with Bournemouth & Poole College and its specialist Marine Technology Centre to hone the high level skills required to develop the young marine engineers and boat builders of the future.
Originally named Poole Power Boats, Sunseeker was founded by brothers Robert and John Braithwaite in 1969. It became Sunseeker International in 1985 and
a majority stake in the business was acquired by Wanda Group, the Beijing headquartered conglomerate in August 2013.
From its manufacturing base in Dorset on the south coast of England, Sunseeker employs c.2000 people and produces around 150 boats every year ranging from 50-155 feet.