Course advisors

Meet our course advisory team

Welcome to UKSA’s course advisory team. Experts in maritime training, this friendly and knowledgeable bunch will guide you through our pathways and find the right course to suit your training and recruitment needs.

Morgan Strange

Course Advisor Manager

After 16 years as a course advisor at UKSA, there is nothing that Morgan doesn’t know about maritime training!  His extensive knowledge of the industry and understanding of marine recruitment requirements enables him to help students find the right course(s) and give best advice on the different career options available.

In addition to loving UKSA, Morgan loves chocolate cake and can occasionally be found at his desk munching on a slice for breakfast.

“One of the best things about my job is seeing a young person who first came to us on a one week Sea.Change programme, progress through our pathways and end up onboard a superyacht.  Each year we are seeing more and more young people join us as Further Education students and continue on to further UKSA  training as Yachtmasters and Cadets.”

Claire Scholes

Senior Course Advisor

After a successful career as a watersports instructor Claire knew she wanted to work behind the scenes helping aspiring instructors take their first steps and decided that UKSA was the perfect place to do that. Claire’s amazing customer service skills means that she dedicates her time to advising students from 16+ to pursue a career within the watersports and maritime industry.

She has kept up her own qualifications and occasionally gets out onto the water to teach – you might recognise her as the instructor with the biggest smile on her face!

“Having worked in the industry for six years, working my way up from kayak and dinghy instructor to centre senior supporting the management team, I have lived and breathed the instructor life and can share everything you need to know about the industry!”

James Elliot

Sales & Events Executive

There are few people that can say they have had as eclectic of a professional career and personal life as James! Having lived in Canada, Australia, Asia and Central London, James has a CV that includes being a trained Snowboard Instructor,  Marketing Associate and Mental Health Crisis Worker. When he isn’t working, James is also a keen surfer, musician and woodturner. Returning to the Isle of Wight to be closer to his family, James is excited to work with UKSA and play his part in making young people aware of the personal and professional development available through UKSA’s courses, and watch as students improve their resilience, integrity and leaderships skills whilst they prepare to launch their careers.

“I am passionate about making young people aware of  the opportunities that UKSA provide, both as an alternative to traditional careers pathways and for personal development. If I had known such options existed when I had left school, who knows what I might be doing now!”

Matt Richardson

Sales Executive

Having worked in a variety of sales and account management roles throughout his career, Matt has combined this with his passion for travel and found himself living and working in Australia, the USA and the Middle East. Looking for a new challenge, Matt moved to the Isle of Wight and inspired by UKSA’s ethos, was excited to join the team.

“It’s so rewarding to watch the development of a young person from their first visit to UKSA, right the way through to training to become an Officer or Captain.  Having left school without a clearly defined pathway myself, I am pleased to be playing a part in providing clarity to those at an important stage in their life when considering what their future career may look like.”

Poppy Lee

Poppy Lee

Careers Course Advisor

Poppy has a natural affinity for the sea. When she is not at UKSA she can be found in the ocean on some form of watercraft! With a background in sales, she finds it highly rewarding to guide prospective students into a career they are passionate about.

A qualified yoga teacher, Poppy exudes tranquility and calm. She has just started teaching yoga at UKSA and if you train with us, you can enjoy one of her Wednesday evening classes for free!

“What I love about UKSA is the ethos to make maritime training accessible to everyone and how it broadens the horizons of young people. From our Dinghy Minis to our Sea.Change Foundation programmes; students from all ages and backgrounds enjoy our courses and benefit from the progressive pathways we make available for them.”

Ben-Willows-thumb

#SeaChangeStories

I continue to be inspired by our students, some of whom have come from challenging backgrounds, and we have seen them turn their lives around and leave UKSA with new work and life skills that will set them up for a long-term career in the maritime industry.

It is a good reminder for us all that with the right encouragement and training, anyone can begin a new chapter and look ahead to a rewarding, long-term career.

Ben Willows -UKSA Chief Executive

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