Simon Lofting - South Essex College

"Until now employers have been sending apprentices to Southampton, Hull or the Isle of Wight for a marine engineering course.

Now we have successfully established a marine workshop and apprenticeship provision based in Essex, close to the M25, that can provide a realistic and resource-rich environment to allow apprentices to have a hands-on approach to marine engineering, whether for the leisure or commercial sector. 

This collaborative approach with the Thames Skills Academy has enabled us to start bridging the skills gap in industry. 

We can provide the training and education whilst industry provides the practical experience. I embrace the opportunity of building the marine engineers of the future and continuing to working collaboratively with Thames Skills Academy."