Career-Making clubs for the young professionals

New groups in society discover boating and yachting. New people from a variation of backgrounds are needed to change the marine industry and meet the new clients’ needs. Young professionals are networking and job opportunities are presented. In dynamic clubs, the new pro’s build their own career.

“A new generation of boating enthusiasts, sailors and yachties is showing great potential for the marine industry,” CEO Lesley Robinson of the industry association British Marine observes. “New customers are much more diverse. Younger, from different cultural backgrounds, more women. I would like to emphasise that it is crucial to shift towards a more diverse workforce in the marine industry. Young people, people from other countries with different taste and preferences, they will understand the needs and wishes of this new customer base. We need to welcome the young.”

Input needed

Mrs. Robinson is not the only one calling for new people in the sector. Luckily, young professionals with plans to work in boating, sailing or yachting recognise the need for their input. Young people in the industry connect to establish networks that may endure for decades. Opportunities, innovation and ethics are embraced.

Take matters in our own hands

“Networks are always needed to stimulate co-operation and progress,” Robert van Tol emphasises. As one of the initiators of the Dutch Chapter of Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY), Van Tol is convinced that having special networking platforms for young people that are building careers in the yachting industry, is beneficial for both the members and the industry as a whole. “It is different than the youth department of an industry association. Young professionals will get the chance to meet each other, but in the end the seniors are in charge. At YPY, we take matters in our own hands.”

Focussed on luxury yachting

YPY was founded in 2009 by a group of young people in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, to provide a welcoming group for younger people in the industry. The client base in the superyacht sector in which they are working, was not crowded with youngsters. Neither were the brokers, suppliers and service agents serving them. They idea sparkled and a group of members gathered, soon. In 2013 a Monaco Chapter was established, followed by the United Kingdom and The Netherlands in 2015.

Today, YPY counts eight national chapters and an alumni network for former members who have passed the age of 40. YPY is very much focussed on the super yacht industry. Annual meetings are in Monaco and Fort Lauderdale. Lectures by seasoned professionals, panel discussions and yard excursions are among the club activities. Membership is for land based yachting professionals under 40. “When I was working in Fort Lauderdale, it was very easy to meet like-minded people through the YPY network,” Van Tol ensures. “Coming back to the Netherlands, I suggested to start a Dutch Chapter. There was already a youth club within Holland Yachting Group. We all saw the benefit of an international club to be part of, with the same focus. YPY is international and local. If you travel somewhere as a member, you can always join in the local activities of the chapters.”

Cutting edge technology

The Young Professionals Club (YPC) at METSTRADE is open for all under 35 that are active in leisure boating, sailing or yachting. Students and aspiring job seekers that consider starting work in the marine industry, are very welcome, too. The YPC events during the trade show include valuable lessons from industry leaders in speeches and keynotes, followed by networking and social events. A breakfast session will include Louis Vuitton Cup challenger Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Operations of the NYYC American Magic campaign. From the helm of the Formula One of Sailing, in complicated operations including sponsoring, boat design, crew management, cutting edge technology and legal matters, Hutchinson can offer an exclusive view into the world of high end where sport and industry meet. He and speakers like him will share their knowledge about the industry and reveal what kind of new professionals are needed.

Future talent

Recruitment company Marine Resources co-organises the YPC career zone at the show floor. The floor is only accessible for people under 35 years of age. In addition to hearing the industry leader speeches and creating a network, the career consultants will offer guided tours along the booths of exhibitors that are looking for new talent. Marine Resources runs a campaign called Future Talent. Aim is to attract young professionals to the marine industry, train them, retain them so they don’t shift to another industry and talent leaves the sector, and help them thrive. Future Talent encourages young people to express their aspirations and expectations for the marine industry’s future. The project includes research along the industry and the candidates to map the needs of young people and professionals in the aspect of learning, growing and flourishing. Future Talent targets millennials and Gen Z, as they are vital contributors to the industry’s future success.

European job board

Dedicated platforms are established to encourage young people to apply for jobs in boat building and nautical tourism. The European boating industry association EBI is partner in the project Blue Generation Career Platform. 

Don’t forget the oldies

Youth are getting stronger, as was demonstrated at the breakfast conference during this year’s Dsseldorf BOOT show. A new generation of industry leaders took the stage: CEO Giovanna Vitellli of Italian Azimut Benetti Group, Ana Calic of Croatian marine equipment distributor Navela, Marcus Boesch of Swiss yard Boesch Boats, Maarten Desloovere of Belgian Yachthaven Nieuwpoort Marina and Furkan Carcki head of Turkish shipyard Curkci Deizcilik. He said: “We have to adapt the offer according to customer generations. Our challenge as young leaders is also to understand the older generation of customers who are still around."