Published on: 24 March 2021
Maritime UK (MUK) has established an ambassadors’ network to support careers activity in schools and colleges nationally. Currently all that work is happening remotely, but in time it is planned to go back to being face to face and onsite visits.
MUK are working with an organisation called Inspiring the Future who run the scheme. They have more than 1000 education organisations on their database who use their website to book industry professionals. The sorts of events that you might be asked to support are as a guest speaker, to support specific classroom or project work, attend a careers fair, carry out mock interviews or other careers and employability activities.
MUK currently has 94 ambassadors registered for the programme and we are determined to increase that number. You are asked only to give one hour a year to the scheme as a minimum. You might be requested to support schools or colleges at one off events, or over time you might carry out a series of events building up a relationship with that particular organisation.
MUK has an ambition to have 200 ambassadors in the network by the end of the academic year, and that the ambassadors represent the whole maritime sector from port operatives to marine biologists, superyacht crew to harbour masters and all other roles in between.
The network was launched in September 2020, since then they have attended 74 virtual events and have spoken to over 11,000 children, the majority of whom are primary age.
If you would like to register as a volunteer, click here!
Maritime Ambassador and Superyacht UK Vice Chair Ken Hickling notes; Without a single Ferrero Rocher in sight, association members are becoming industry Ambassadors, providing a valuable resource in the work across our industry to secure the best talent for the future.
As part of the Government’s Maritime 2050 vision, Maritime UK has linked up with Inspiring the future who specialise in bringing business leaders from the real world into classrooms across the country.
Giving pupils insight into the wide array of career options in our sector as well as sharing our own stories has a twofold benefit. Firstly, this process delivers improved educational outcomes as connections between subjects at school and real-world situations are brought to life, and secondly as we position the Maritime sector more prominently in relation to other sectors such as Automotive, Aerospace and Hospitality.
Ambassadors must give a minimum one hour of classroom time each year, although in current circumstances with all sessions being run remotely, it is easy to take on a few more without significant impact to your schedule.
Ken comments; “This is a great opportunity to share my own experience and help our sector get the high quality people we need for the future. It is great to see the little light bulb moments in the classrooms during the Q&A sessions.”