Local MP Caroline Dinenage welcomed a fantastic skills boost for Gosport as she opened the new Marine Skills Centre on Friday.
The new centre, a joint project between the Mabway Academy and St Vincent College, was officially launched in Gosport Marina. The first course, in Marine Engineering, will run from September this year. School leavers will be able to join the Level 1 course to learn core skills towards their future careers in the industry, while the centre looks to expand to offer higher qualifications and apprenticeships in the future.
Caroline was keen to stress the importance of this centre for the area. She said: “This centre recognises the central importance of the marine industries to our area. With our fantastic coastal location and unique sites awaiting development, we have great potential to become a genuine leader in maritime excellence, but we need the skills on the ground to make it happen”.
Sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who joined Caroline for the launch, said: “I am particularly interested in what the Gosport Marine Skills Centre is doing because I know, from experience, that good, well-trained boat builders and electricians are hard to find in the marine industry.”