Since April last year, Lauren has been training as a Bosun with Wightlink and is currently the youngest Bosun in the company’s history. While she still occasionally does deck work, her role now includes a broader mix of responsibilities. “Being a Bosun is brilliant because you’re berthing the ship and it’s a big ship! But it’s such a great experience.”
Reflecting on her time at UKSA, Lauren highlights how much she gained from the Maritime Foundation course. “There’s so much to the course. I learned how to sail, I had never sailed before, and then I gained instructing experience. I gained leadership and teamwork skills, working with different age groups and skill levels. One of my classmates was a Team GB sailor, and then there was me, who had never been on a sailing boat, but I learned so much. I’ve also made lifelong friendships.”
UKSA offers a two-year Maritime Foundation programme for 16-18-year olds with little or no experience in the maritime industry. The course combines hands-on training and classroom learning, Instructor and Powerboat Level 2. Fully funded and run with the Isle of Wight College, it prepares young people for careers in watersports, superyachts, the merchant navy and other maritime sectors, or for further training in the industry.
Every day presents new challenges. “For example, today we weren’t expecting it to be so windy. We arrived in Yarmouth at 6 a.m., which changed our plan for the day. You always have to be prepared and make quick decisions to keep the boat, crew, and passengers safe.”
One of Lauren’s biggest challenges has been being a young woman in the industry. “It can be tough, and there are people who might try to knock you down, but you don’t let them. I’m really proud of myself. The shift patterns can also be difficult, since I was 18, I haven’t had regular weekends off. I get one weekend off every six weeks, but I love my job so much that it hasn’t affected my social life. If you’re committed to the industry, you adapt.”
