Ocean Yacht Systems, have expanded their team through the recent employment of two apprentices.
The apprenticeship scheme runs for a four year period, and during this time Cara Deasy (26) and James Aucott (18), will be working at Ocean Yacht Systems four days a week, whilst attending Bournemouth and Poole College one day a week. The scheme is in association with The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, Shipwrights Apprenticeship Scheme. “Both James and Cara have relocated to the area in order to join this course and to work with Ocean Yacht Systems, they are settling in really well. We are looking forward to seeing how their roles develop over the next 4 years.” Commented Wayne Shatwell, Managing Director at Ocean Yacht Systems.
Over the first two months, the apprentices have been taken through the various aspects of the factory in Christchurch. Although both have lived around the water, the engineering side and scale of the items made at Ocean Yacht Systems, is all very new. Bournemouth and Poole College is teaching the theory and with some practical experience, while the role of Ocean Yacht Systems is to provide on the job experience and a deeper understanding of engineering.
“I love the fact that what I am doing here is part of a much bigger story,” commented James. “The end result is so much greater, but I will have played my part and to see it on a superyacht that might be the other side of the world is incredible.”
This is only the beginning of the journey to becoming qualified engineers and so far the apprentices have been taken through every detail from inspecting products to polishing and packaging the products prior to sending out to customers. They will then progress to machining and then complete the engineering of new thruster, rigging and hydraulic parts.
“Everyone here is always hard at work. There are so many projects going on, everyday seems to be very different and we are being rotated round and tasked with different challenges,” commented Cara. “It’s nice having another apprentice here, although we are very much part of the whole team, we can help each other out and point one another in the right direction if needed.”
The Shipwrights Apprenticeship Scheme is funded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation and is assists companies, like Ocean Yacht Systems, to establish marine apprenticeships within their business.
For more details on Ocean Yacht Systems, please visit www.oceanyachtsystems.co.uk