The UK’s Boat Building Academy (BBA) says winning Business of the Year in British Marine’s Boatbuilders Sector Awards comes at a point when the organisation is focused on securing its long-term future rather than celebrating past achievements. The Lyme Regis-based training provider is aiming to buy the freehold of its waterfront campus after five years of operating without recurring public funding.
“We have transformed the BBA into a financially resilient and sustainable organisation operating without any recurring public funding,” says director and trustee Will Reed. “Buying our building will allow rental expenditure to be redirected into bolstering general funds and potentially direct student support.”
The award was presented during British Marine’s 2026 Boatbuilders Sector Awards by chair of British Marine South West Sarah Wallbank. (Wallbank recently advocated for greater collaboration across marine industry associations in order to deliver results with ongoing challenges.)
Focus on financial resilience
The academy became a charity in 2020 and since then has raised £618,309 for bursaries helping with boatbuilding, furniture making and short courses. More than 200 bursaries have been awarded covering an average of 52 per cent of course fees, with no administrative deductions. Reed says the funding has widened access to training, particularly through the academy’s partnership with Women In Boat Building (WIBB).
“Over half of all bursaries have been awarded to women and non-binary students,” he says.
Since opening in 1997, the academy has trained nearly 3,000 people across boatbuilding, furniture making and specialist short courses. Recently Karen Underwood, MD of Spirit Yachts, reiterated how important the academy is for prospective candidates to gain practical boatbuilding skills before working at Spirit. She says the academy means Spirit can direct enthusiastic applicants towards formal training and create a pipeline of people who understand the realities of the profession.
Freehold purchase planned
The academy is now preparing to purchase the freehold of its waterfront premises.
Reed says ownership will reduce long-term operating costs by replacing rental payments with investment in the organisation and student support.
“This will permanently secure our future and the future of boat building training in the UK, and we would very much like to hear from businesses and organisations interested in helping us to fund this project,” Reed says.
Belinda Joslin (WIBB) and Will Reed discussing creating a more diverse industry at SIBS 2025 Wooden Boat Stage.
Businesses interested in supporting the project can find more information online.
Award follows successful year for students
The recognition comes during a busy year for the academy.
Its students collectively won the Rising Star award at the 2026 Classic Boat Awards, while former students BlueTree Boat Builders received a British Marine’s Sustainability Award.
Reed says BlueTree’s success demonstrates the academy’s wider impact on the industry.
The academy’s latest graduating class also completed three commissioned boats during its 40-week course before launching them at Lyme Regis in June. The 16 students built:
- an 18ft traditional clinker double-ender
- a 16ft glued clinker cutter-rigged sailing dinghy
- a 17ft strip-planked runabout powered by a 30hp outboard
Many of the graduates already have jobs or work trials arranged with UK boatyards, according to Reed.
Industry recognition
Wallbank says the academy plays an important role in maintaining traditional skills while training future boatbuilders.
“The success of BlueTree Boat Builders… demonstrates that the BBA is not only preserving traditional skills but producing talented marine professionals and successful businesses that are helping to shape the future of our industry,” she says.
As winner of the Boatbuilders Sector Business of the Year award, the academy will go forward to the British Marine National Awards at the British Marine Trades Association Awards Dinner on 21 September 2026 at Voco Southampton by IHG.
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