Nominations now open for RYA Trinity House Yachtmaster Scholarship
by Sara Mills 11 Aug 2018 09:46 UTC
RYA Trinity House © RYA
The heat is on to find the very best talent in the commercial small boat sector.
Skilled boaters who can prove their dedication to the marine industry are prime candidates for a share of a £30,000 funding pot, designed to help towards the cost of future training.
Trinity House – a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafaring – has funded the scholarship. This will be shared between selected candidates to enable them to gain the qualifications needed to pursue or further their careers.
To apply for a share of the funding, candidates will need to be nominated by the Principal of an RYA-Recognised Training centre, where they have taken or are planning to undertake training.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate a high level of commitment and achievement in the industry already, or be able to show a history of excellence in their studies or in leisure boating activity.
The small boat commercial sector within the UK and on similar vessels outside the UK provides a huge employment opportunity across a wide variety of activities.
From high-speed experience rides and eco-tourism, from Cornwall to Scotland, charter race sailing on the Solent to windfarm workboats, round the world race yachts to superyachts globally – there is literally something for every taste in terms of career opportunity.
RYA's Director of Training Richard Falk said the Trinity House RYA Yachtmaster Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to step onto this exciting career ladder.
He added: 'It has long been the case that RYA qualifications form the cornerstone of the small commercial vessel sector.
'It is essential for the marine industry to invest in top talent to remain the highly regarded industry it is today. It takes a huge amount of commitment, dedication and training to reach the top and we would like to be able to give back so candidates can excel. We are excited to be working with Trinity House on this initiative and we very much look forward to seeing the flow of successful candidates into a broad cross section of the industry.'
Trinity House Trustee and Director of Training Nigel Hope, said Trinity House was, 'delighted to be providing a new opportunity to enable people to start or further their seafaring career'.
He added: 'For many years Trinity House has been supporting sail training and Merchant Navy Cadets. It is a logical extension of that work that Trinity House should now also support seafarers in the many growing offshore industries and activities. The RYA is the ideal partner in that endeavour.'
The selection process
The first round of interviews will be on 21st November, 2018 at Trinity House in London. Applications for the first round of scholarship funding will close on 5th October, 2018.
Nominations for a candidate must be made by a principal of one of the RYA's vast network of RYA Recognised Training Centres, where candidates will have shown exceptional boating, navigation and/or leadership skills.