Sunseeker Celebrates Success of Apprentice and Graduate Programme

Sunseeker International celebrates the graduation of yet more apprentices and graduates. The management team presented 21 successful individuals with their certificates, having completed the company’s award-winning apprenticeship scheme or its brand-new graduate scheme.

The Sunseeker Apprenticeship Programme launched in 1979 and has supported hundreds of apprentices with multiple learning pathways, including carpentry, composites, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and IT. The apprenticeship is taught over three or four years at the Bournemouth and Poole College’s Marine Technology Centre, alongside on-the-job training at its Poole and Portland shipyards. The vast majority of apprentices go on to remain with the company and progress their careers including senior leadership roles.

Sunseeker International’s apprenticeship scheme has been frequently recognised as a leading course in apprenticeship training and the success has led to the recent introduction of the ‘Sunseeker Graduate Programme’.

This is a new scheme created by Sunseeker to help university graduates gain a commercial understanding of how the organisation operates by offering two-year placements, allowing them to experience all elements of their specialism and supporting roles. This is the first graduation for this new programme and Sunseeker is delighted to recognise the outstanding individuals within this first intake.

Neil Ramsden, Talent Manager at Sunseeker International, commented: “Apprenticeships continue to be justifiably sought after as a route to develop valuable skills and talent, leading to a fulfilling and rewarding career. We congratulate the 21 individuals who have completed the programme which has tested them but ultimately given them the knowledge, confidence and ability they need to succeed. Our apprentices will have learnt the necessary craft skills from experienced boat builders to produce the level of quality and attention-to-detail for which Sunseeker is renowned; meanwhile, our graduates have received an exceptional commercial understanding which will help them develop into diverse and challenging roles. Both routes present a brilliant opportunity to establish lifelong careers within the leisure marine industry.”

Apprentices and Graduates were celebrated with a presentation and thanks from Sean Robertson – Sales Director, Timon Orlob – COO, Neil Ramsden – Talent Manager and Michelle Wilkinson – Apprentice Coordinator held at the new ‘Sunseeker on Show’ facility at West Quay Road.