Shipshape East Anglia Project (SEA) Jan Karel Querido
About the project The Shipshape East Anglia Project (SEA) was delivered at the International Boatbuilding Training College, Lowestoft (IBTC) between 2014 and 2016 in partnership with National Historic Ships UK (NHS-UK). The project was funded with a 624,950 grant from the Department of Local Government s Coastal Communities Fund set up to create and support skills training and employment opportunities in coastal areas across the UK. Credit Alan name McGee The SEA Project aimed to improve training facilities at IBTC, provide training courses, create job opportunities centred around boatbuilding, and establish a mobile saw mill. An historic vessel was restored for use as a tourism business in the form of a Water Taxi, promoting Lowestoft s marine heritage. A second stage of the project saw the initiation of a regional HUB bringing together the historic vessel sector, maritime businesses and learning providers in the wider area to support skills development and employment. The specific aims of the project were to: Create collaborative opportunities between IBTC and the wider maritime sector, local economy and other skills providers. Create new jobs for a shipwright, a shipwright s assistant and 2 apprentices employed on the restoration and fit out of a craft on the National Register of Historic Vessels. Operate the restored historic vessel as a water taxi for use in the Oulton Broad/Lowestoft water transport network creating a tourism business which promotes the boatbuilding heritage of the area and creates new jobs for 4 members of the crew. Set up and run a sawmill at IBTC to supply specialist timber to the maritime sector, training and employing a sawyer and sawyer s assistant. Provide a skills mapping activity for the area identifying changing needs of the historic vessel and maritime sector. Begin positioning IBTC as a Shipshape Hub as part of the national Shipshape Network, providing a focus for training, events and skills sharing in boatbuilding, ancillary services, work experience, apprenticeships etc.
Achievements The project attracted 119,473 joint funding from the private sector towards improved facilities at IBTC. Eight FTE jobs, one PTE job, two contract jobs and 2 apprenticeships were created during the project. Five employees are continuing to work in the maritime sector with the full-time sawyer post being extended for six months. Two apprenticeships have been completed and both were accredited with City and Guilds Level 3 Boat building certificates. Follow on jobs have been secured. One of the project s employees has been subsequently recruited as an instructor at IBTC and offered a permanent position. One work placement was delivered as part of the restoration of an historic vessel. The 1954 M/L Terrier was restored during the project and is now in use as Lowestoft water taxi. Lowestoft Water Taxi has operated for two seasons and has been used by 3,800 passengers. In December 2016, the business was presented with a Tourism and Business award from Waveney District Council and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. The specialist Shipshape Sawmill has been set up to support marine businesses, craftspeople and other businesses with over 200 customers to date. A SEA HUB development conference was attended by 80 businesses, vessel owners and heritage organisations to facilitate future partnership work and explore funding opportunities for the maritime sector. Seven short open courses were delivered at IBTC in axe hewing and RYA diesel engine maintenance. IBTC engaged with five secondary schools in Lowestoft organising a cardboard boatbuilding competition attended by 40 pupils. Three open days were held to launch the Shipshape Sawmill, the Lowestoft Water Taxi, and the Flagship of the Year award on Excelsior. A previously unused yard space alongside Lake Lothing is now back in use as the Shipshape Sawmill. IBTC Ltd
Excelsior Trust HUB CASE STUDY As an architect with a love of the sea John bought the Lowestoft sailing smack Excelsior in Norway and set up the Trust to restore her back to full sailing condition. With an in-depth knowledge of traditional materials and techniques, John is Chairman of the Lowestoft Harbour Maritime Businesses Group. We have identified that there are virtually no marine services available at Lowestoft port for the medium to small ship owner. In particular there is a market for servicing leisure craft here, as well as showing traditional boatbuilding skills in action at IBTC and our Excelsior Yard is fascinating for visitors to see. We are keen to promote the historic character of Lowestoft which contributes to attracting inward investment. John Wylson Excelsior Trust A SHIPSHAPE HUB WAS ESTABLISHED AT IBTC LOWESTOFT, PROVIDING TWO YEAR-LONG BURSARIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND A GRANT SCHEME FOR PROFESSIONALS IN THE TRADITIONAL SAILING SECTOR.
SAWMILL CASE STUDY Sam has lived in Lowestoft most of his life and undertook a carpentry apprenticeship in 2005 at Lowestoft College. He then worked in the construction industry until 2011 and set up his own business of bespoke shop fitting and garden buildings. He then applied to run the Shipshape Mill on a full-time fixed term basis. The sawmill is gathering momentum now. There is a niche market to provide very high quality timber needed for specialist furniture, cabinet makers, wood turners and carvers in the area. I have recently been talking to the Norwich Woodturners Association. There has been great interest from this level of need some people have travelled miles for a particular cut of laurel. Over the two years of the project Sam received specific training. His contract has been extended to establish the business as part of IBTC s commercial offer. Sam Porter Sawyer, Shipshape Mill 8 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT JOBS, 1 PART-TIME EQUIVALENT JOB, 2 CONTRACT JOBS AND 2 APPRENTICESHIPS WERE CREATED DURING THE PROJECT. IBTC Ltd IBTC Ltd
IBTC Ltd IBTC CASE STUDY Mike Tupper has recently taken ownership of IBTC Lowestoft after a career as a carpenter and in the Royal Navy. As a former student, he has been able to improve the College with a range of new training courses and a stronger commercial presence. There is sense in being part of a future business hub in the area rather than stand alone. We see great potential to continue as a centre of excellence in traditional wooden boatbuilding, promoting high quality craftsmanship while also providing skills for work in other kinds of boat design and maintenance such as GSR. We are expanding our courses into this area and attracting interest nationally and internationally which is good for the sector and this region. Mike Tupper, Director of IBTC, Lowestoft 32,378 INCOME GENERATED BY THE SHIPSHAPE MILL, TERRIER WATER TAXI AND SHORT COURSES.
WATER TAXI CASE STUDY I have a background in the Merchant Navy and had an interest in returning to the shipping field. I saw this job as a way to get back to sea and it has helped me progress. Working on a much smaller boat was interesting! There was only a short time to get used to it and the experience helped me gain an insight in working as a skipper and navigating skills for a small vessel. I am now working for a tugboat company and I am learning about barges I would be interested in working on the Water Taxi again. Shawn Almeida, Skipper s Mate, Lowestoft Water Taxi THE WATER TAXI HAS BEEN USED BY 3,800 PEOPLE OVER TWO SEASONS AND AWARDED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2016 CULTURE AND HERITAGE BY THE WAVENEY DISTRICT CUNCIL. Alan Kempster
Conclusions IBTC has been able to maintain its profile as an international, national and regional maritime skills provider. The project has raised awareness of maritime heritage by operating the Lowestoft Water Taxi for visitors to the area and local residents and has demonstrated an interest in using historic vessels for tourism potential. SEA project has enabled new job creation and skills development, providing further training for professionals and encouraging younger people to work in the historic vessel and maritime sector. The project has highlighted how IBTC can act as a link between the maritime heritage sector and current marine businesses and suppliers in the region promoting excellence in traditional wooden boatbuilding and carpentry as well as providing training in modern shipwright techniques. Connections made with local schools and open days have promoted the role of IBTC to the local economy and community as a centre of excellence providing services to regional and national businesses and attracting international and UK students to the area. There has been clear support and recognition from Waveney District Council, Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce for this work. The outcomes of the project have promoted the Lake Lothing area of Lowestoft as a potential Shipshape HUB which champions the historic character of the area as well as the potential of marine businesses in the region. The Shipshape HUB conference has energised the sector to actively collaborate and initiated discussions about where best to focus effort to consolidate the East Anglian historic vessel sector. To find out more or get involved in future projects of this kind, please contact: Shipshape Network Park Row, Greenwich London SE10 9NF www.shipshapenetwork.org.uk info@shipshapenetwork.org.uk Tel: 0208 312 8558 IBTC Lowestoft 6 Sea Lake Road Oulton Broad NR32 3LQ www.ibtc.co.uk info@.ibtc.co.uk Tel: 01502 569663