MSSC strengthens partnership with UKSA to support next generation of maritime professionals
New bursary will support current or former Sea Cadets and Sea Cadet volunteers to access UKSA’s Superyacht cadetship programme and progress towards professional maritime careers.
UKSA and the Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) are delighted to announce the creation of the Nautilus Slater Superyacht Bursary, made possible through the generous support of the Nautilus Slater Fund.
The bursary will support current or former Sea Cadets and Sea Cadet volunteers to access UKSA’s flagship cadetship programme, helping them turn their experience and passion for the water into an opportunity to pursue a professional career at sea.
Three bursary recipients (pictured) have already begun their training as part of UKSA’s September 2026 cadetship intake, with a fourth recipient set to be supported on the 2027 intake.
The initiative builds on the partnership between UKSA and MSSC and their shared commitment to creating accessible pathways into the maritime sector, ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent talented and motivated individuals from pursuing professional maritime careers.
Through the bursary, four recipients will receive financial support towards their training at UKSA, helping to overcome the cost barriers associated with gaining the professional qualifications and practical experience needed to enter the maritime industry.
UKSA’s cadetship provides a structured pathway into the superyacht and wider maritime sectors through internationally recognised qualifications, practical training and industry experience. Alongside developing the technical skills required to work at sea, students build the confidence, resilience and professional skills needed to succeed within a demanding global industry.
Darrell Bate, Director of Maritime Training and Development at MSSC said: ‘We welcome this new collaboration with UKSA, building on our existing apprenticeship delivery partnership, to extend the career pathways we can offer our Sea Cadet community. The Nautilus Slater Superyacht Bursary will enable us to make their dreams a reality.’
For UKSA, the partnership forms part of its wider charitable commitment to ensuring that access to maritime training and career opportunities is determined by an individual’s potential and ambition, rather than their financial circumstances.
UKSA supports young people at different stages of their journey, from first experiences on the water through to further education, professional training and employment. Bursary funding plays a critical role in enabling those who may otherwise be unable to afford professional training to continue their progression into the industry.
"We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of the Nautilus Slater Fund and to MSSC for continuing to strengthen its partnership with UKSA. The Nautilus Slater Superyacht Bursary will give four talented and motivated individuals from the Sea Cadet community the chance to gain industry-recognised qualifications, develop valuable practical experience and take an important step towards a professional career at sea. By investing in individuals at this crucial stage of their journey, we can help nurture the talent and skills the maritime sector needs for the future.”
The bursary recipients will undertake their cadetship training with UKSA, gaining the qualifications, experience and professional development needed to begin building sustainable careers at sea.
Through the Nautilus Slater Superyacht Bursary, UKSA, MSSC and the Nautilus Slater Fund are investing in the next generation of maritime professionals, creating a clear progression route for Sea Cadets and Sea Cadet volunteers to turn their experience on the water into rewarding careers across the superyacht and wider maritime industry.
