As more people build careers in fields that didn’t exist decades ago, the traditional path of going to university and getting a job is becoming less appealing. Many are forging their own path and the superyacht industry is growing in popularity as a career.
This is made evident by UKSA’s Superyacht Hospitality Training Course reporting a 108 percent increase in enrollment in 2021 compared to 2019, and the average age of students dropping by nine years from 31 in 2015 to 22 in 2021 — showing that people are deciding much earlier what career path they want to follow and acting upon it.
The Isle of Wight-based maritime charity UKSA provides life-enhancing water-based adventures and education with its world’s largest RYA training center — delivering MCA-endorsed professional training to maritime students from across the globe.
Not only did UKSA see a steady increase in the number of students taking part in the course up to and including 2020, despite the pandemic, they have already filled 50 percent of the spots in 2022.
The GUEST-accredited course was specifically designed by industry experts to teach the knowledge and skills required as a steward/stewardess, along with those essential onboard employment, such as the departments, chain of command, and health and safety. It was launched 15 years ago “to meet the growing demand for well-trained professional crew on board some of the world’s most luxurious yachts and sees an average of eighty percent of students secure a role within three months of completing their training,” the press release states.
“The vast increase in those taking up our Superyacht Hospitality course is truly a reflection of young people opting for a more outdoor work-life since the pandemic started,” said Chris Frisby, Director of Training and Operations at UKSA, in the press release. “We’re seeing students younger, and more determined than ever to take control of their careers, choose alternatives to university and ultimately work towards a goal of seeing the world and this is a great opportunity to realise that dream.”
Since September 2021, award-winning Little Gloster has collaborated with UKSA for the course, teaching students table management, cocktail making, housekeeping and laundry, floristry, and wine appreciation.
“The collaboration has been a great opportunity for us to share our knowledge of the luxury hospitality sector to students and show them how going the extra mile will make them stand out from the crowd in the competitive superyacht sector,” Holly Cooke of Little Gloster said in the release. “The students we’ve worked with are passionate about a career on the water and enthusiastic to learn how to be the best, which is essential when working with high-end clientele, used to seven-star service.”