Further Education graduate stories

What our further education students are doing now

Our graduates share their experiences, before, during and after their career courses.

Finlay Wyeth Bell

In year 10 at school, Finlay decided he wanted to pursue a further education course which would provide him with a structured pathway into a maritime career. He chose to enrol onto UKSA’s two-year Maritime Advanced Programme, the NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Sport and Physical Outdoor Pathway, and hoped to follow straight on into UKSA’s cadetship programme.

  • Before the course: Year 10 of school
  • After the course: Deckhand on Superyacht in Italy
Long Term Aspiration

“My long-term aspiration is to work my way up the ranks in the yachting industry enjoying my time as I climb. I believe and aspire to be a superyacht captain. I think it will be an amazing job and with enough hard work I believe I will get there.”

Henry Robinson

After visiting UKSA as part of the Test the Water Programme in Year 6 Henry tried out dinghy sailing. Fast forward 10 years and thanks to UKSA’s Maritime Foundation course Henry is now a qualified Dinghy Instructor.

  • Before the course: Just finished GCSE’s
  • After the course: Watersports Instructor job lined up in Greece with Neilson
Long Term Aspiration

“I hope to travel and work abroad as a Watersports Instructor in places such as Australia in the near future! My long-term goal is to work on superyachts, but for now I’ve only just turned 18 and so would like to gain some more life experience before jumping into yachting. Eventually I hope to earn my Yachtmaster Offshore qualification and then start looking for Deckhand roles on sailing yachts, from there I’ll work my way up the ranks.”

Isabella Rainbow

Isabella found herself standing at a crossroads as she was finishing High School. With a deep-rooted love for the sea and commitment to sailing, she embarked on a quest to combine her education with her lifelong passion. It was during this time that Isabella discovered the NCFE Adventurous Outdoor Activities course offered by UKSA.

  • Before the course: High School
  • After the course: Enrolled on Superyacht Cadetship
Long Term Aspiration

“In five years, I hope to be approaching the final stages of my cadetship. I’ve recently overcome obstacles to obtain my ENG1 certification, and I aim to progress from deckhand to captain in a warm and vibrant location. My ultimate goal is to work on a sailing yacht, where my true passion lies.”