Schools and Careers Day

Tuesday, 20th September

About the Day    

Tuesday turns the spotlight towards young people, with the show welcoming over 700 school children, from ages 11 upwards, along with college and university students.  The day’s diverse programme has been designed to introduce young people to all the excitement and career opportunities that the marine industry has to offer.

A treasure hunt will provide young people with a fun way to navigate their way around the whole of the Show.  There will be a Foredeck Stage takeover with a range of career-focussed talks, panel discussions and other activities. BBC’s Apprentice candidate, Jasmine Kundra, will host a special speed networking session giving school children and students a chance to meet and quiz prominent employers from across the marine industry.

Every young person will be given a chance to get out on the water.  Stand up paddleboarding, kayaking or dinghy sailing will be available through the Show’s ‘Get Afloat’ sessions, under the expert guidance of the Rockley Watersports team. For those who fancy trying something bigger, Try-a-Boat in partnership with FlexiSail has a fleet of yachts and motorboats available for the youngsters to try.  A lucky few will also have the chance to sail out into Southampton Water onboard the tall ship Morgenster or to enjoy a trip on the Show’s very own mini cruise ship, the Ocean Scene.

Programme for the Day

09:00 – 11:00 For those who have booked, The Morgenster will be departing from marina berth M221. Take a trip back in history by sailing onboard the fully square-rigged, two-masted, tall ship, the Morgenster. Built in 1919, with an overall length of 48 metres, she is a thoroughbred tall ship and fit to inspire the next generation!

Throughout the day – Our very own mini-cruise, Ocean Scene will be departing from marina berth M184.

From 10:00 Pirate Treasure Hunt (takes 1 to 2 hours, with the last start at 15:00)

Ahoy, Me Hearties!  Bring your mateys down and join the pirates for some fun.  Just pick up the treasure hunt booklet from main entrance and follow the trail around the show where pirates will be waiting for you. Look out for the clues.  Will they lead you to the treasure?  The only way to find out, is to come and take part. All Hands Hoy!

11:00 – 17:00 Foredeck Stage – Talks and other fun activities  

A range of speakers from the marine industry will take to the stage to talk about job opportunities and tips on how to develop a career within the leisure marine industry. Talks include:

• 11:00 – 11:30 ‘The stress-free way to cast off and come alongside’ by Duncan Wells, author of the popular Stress-Free sailing books
• 11:30 -12:00 ‘Real Life Stories about starting a career in the marine sector’ by Rachel Lasham, Peter Pring, Chris Wood, Paul Singer of Premier Marinas
• 12:30 – 13:00 ‘How to get into Naval Architecture’ by Conrad Manning
• 13:00 – 14:00 ‘Satellites to frying pans – navigating using alternative means!’ by Stokey Woodall, an ocean sailor and author who has navigated over 300,000 nautical miles
• 14:30 – 15:30 Practical Steam Bend and Q&A session, with Mike and Lyn Tupper of the International Boatbuilding Training College, Olton Broad
• 15:30 – 16:30 ‘The role of a Marine Surveyor and how to become one’ by Ben Sutcliffe-Davies industry expert and marine survey
• 16:30 – 17:30 ‘An inspirational career in Maritime: from watersports instructor to CEO of UKSA’ by Ben Willow of UKSA

For more information and find out a little more about our speakers please see our Foredeck Stage line up page.

14:00 – 17:00 Hampshire Suite, Holiday Inn Hotel – Speed Networking

Join Jasmine Kundra, the 2018 candidate from the ‘The Apprentice’ (BBC) as she facilitates a high-paced speed career networking event.  With multiple prominent employers seated at individual desks, you will have five minutes to talk directly to each one of them. Have your pen and paper ready because this is a quick paced opportunity to put your questions to employers and gather valuable information that may help steer your career choice. It’s a great chance to meet a range of leading marine employers, from marina managers and boat builders to employers in marine tech companies, training institutions and well-known charities

And for those young people with a competitive edge, keen to test out their dexterity, they can take part in the “Beat the Barton Clock” challenge and be the fastest on our Schools & Careers Day! This will be located outside of our Foredeck Stage.