Blog: Raising awareness to recruit the best people for UK maritime employment at sea and ashore

At the 19th Maritime HR & Crew Management Conference in London on 19-20 October, Commodore Barry Bryant CVO RN, Director General of the Seafarers UK charity, will update delegates on the exciting opportunity provided by the UK Maritime Growth Study (MGS) to promote maritime employment opportunities.

As chair of Maritime UK’s ‘People & Skills’ Awareness Group, Commodore Bryant will talk about MGS Recommendation 14: For the promotional body recommended in this report to coordinate, including with the Merchant Navy Training Board, Maritime Skills Alliance, Seavision and others, a year–round programme of awareness raising activities to encourage interest in, and entry into, maritime careers.

Commodore Bryant said: ‘Maritime UK has a timely opportunity to provide feedback to the Government on the UK’s ongoing need for a cadre of professional British seafarers. More men and women are needed now to embark on training, to meet the forecast global shortfall in the number of Merchant Navy officers. And, in the longer term, as shipping continues to grow, the UK will need people with sea-going experience to work ashore, in our ports and harbours, and in maritime services, such as finance, insurance, chartering and broking.’

The maritime industry contributes £22.2 billion to UK GDP and supports 500,000 jobs. Its sectors include shipping, ports, marine and business services; which together drive exports and inward investment, as well as remaining the fundamental enabler of trade in and out of the UK.