The maritime sector has long warned that a shortage of skilled welders and fabricators could slow growth across shipbuilding, vessel repair and offshore industries. A new training initiative launched by British Maritime Training and Assessment and Fareport Training aims to tackle that challenge head-on, equipping local people with practical skills needed for careers in the Solent’s fast-growing marine sector.
In an area where the maritime sector continues to drive economic opportunity and innovation, it’s crucial to strengthen the pipeline of specialist fabrication and welding talent, says Jodi Fair, regional growth and partnerships manager at Solent Growth Partnership. Her organisation is funding a new programme to ensure “that people can access high‑quality training across a full range of skills – from hands‑on, manual trades through to the digital and office‑based capabilities some businesses need.
“This balance is essential for supporting growth, boosting productivity, and helping our communities thrive.”
This looks like British Maritime Training and Assessment, in partnership with Fareport Training, launching a Marine Fabrication & Welding Skills Bootcamp. It’s designed to equip local people with the practical, in‑demand skills needed for careers in the region’s thriving maritime sector.
Training aimed at shipbuilding, repair and offshore sectors
The bootcamp has been developed in partnership with employers to ensure participants gain the capabilities industry is actively looking for. Funded through Solent Growth Partnership to directly meet regional skills gaps, the course aims to give learners the confidence and competence to step directly into skilled fabrication and welding roles.
“We’ve developed this course with our partners and in collaboration with employers in response to a clear skills need,” says Owen Davies, partner at BMTA. “The course is designed to ensure learners gain the capabilities industry is actively looking for.
“As demand grows across shipbuilding, vessel repair, offshore energy, and advanced engineering, the new Marine Fabrication & Welding Skills Bootcamp will help local employers access a pipeline of job‑ready talent at the same time as offering people in our local communities the opportunities into skilled, rewarding and well‑paid careers.”
Practical learning to prepare job-ready fabricators and welders
The course will be delivered through a combination of workshop-based practical sessions, classroom learning, instructor demonstrations and continuous assessment. This approach ensures learners leave not only with technical skills, but with the professional confidence needed to succeed in fabrication and welding environments.
“Recruiting and retaining talented individuals in the marine engineering and manufacturing sector is a big challenge in the UK and we are doing everything we can to overcome this, by working with our excellent local partners,” says Mark Downer, CEO of Griffon Marine – which is providing the first cohort of students.
“This programme sits alongside our Marine Electrician Skills Bootcamp, strengthening the skills offers that local employers are calling for,” adds James Ford, strategic partnerships director at Fareport Training. With BMTA “we’re opening up practical, high-quality training routes that help people build real confidence and step into in-demand careers.”
Information about the skills bootcamps can be found on BMTA’s website.
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