Harbour Team Apprentice
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Chichester (PO20 7AW)
Closes in 26 days (Sunday 26 July 2026 at 11:59pm)
Posted on 30 June 2026
Contents
Summary
Chichester Harbour Conservancy is looking for an enthusiastic and committed apprentice to join the Harbour Team, based in Itchenor, West Sussex. You will work as part of a small and friendly team, who are tasked with ensuring the safety of harbour users and maintenance and upkeep of moorings and infrastructure around the harbour.
- Wage
-
£15,392 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
- Training course
- Small commercial vessel crewmember (level 3)
- Hours
-
37hrs per week to include some weekend and bank holiday working during the summer season (Easter - end October). Days and times to be confirmed.
The apprentice will be entitled to 23 days' paid leave/ year in addition to statutory bank holidays.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
2 years
- Positions available
-
1
Work
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
Chichester Harbour Conservancy is a friendly and welcoming organisation who has an opportunity for a small commercial vessel crewmember apprentice to join the Harbour Team.
The harbour team maintain and operate a range of harbour vessels ranging from dories and patrol RIBs through to a dedicated mooring maintenance barge. The team undertake patrols of the harbour to ensure that byelaws are upheld and to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for harbour users. The team also lay, service and maintain approximately 1000 moorings and navigation aids around the harbour.
As part of a small team, you will gain skills and experience across all aspects of the harbour team roles including:
- Navigation and vessel handling skills to enable you to competently skipper the range of conservancy vessels
- Towing operations and working as a barge crew member for the laying and servicing of moorings
- Cargo handling – including slinging loads, crane operations and securing cargo onboard a workboat
- Harbour patrol and enforcement duties
- Monitoring VHF radio, responding to calls for help, assisting vessels and the general public
- Assisting with the maintenance, repair, and improvement of Conservancy vessels, moorings and infrastructure
- Physical duties including frequent manual handling, climbing ladders, working at height and assisting with activities on and around the water
Due to the enforcement aspects of the role, candidates will need to be a minimum of 18 years of age.
Where you'll work
Harbour Office
The Street, Itchenor
Chichester
PO20 7AW
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
THE MARINE SOCIETY AND SEA CADETS
Training course
Small commercial vessel crewmember (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Operate vessel equipment including main engines, pumps, emergency equipment and winches.
- Support the safety of those on board, for example, passengers, technicians and other crew.
- Maintain a vessel's weather and watertight integrity and take necessary action if breached.
- Operate life saving appliances (LSA) and firefighting equipment (FFE).
- Administer emergency first aid.
- Coordinate a response to an emergency situation.
- Steer a vessel in different marine environments, for example, maintain and alter course when required to do so, taking into account local environment and conditions.
- Manoeuvre a vessel to enable recovery of "man overboard" and the safe boarding of emergency services and authorities.
- Load and unload cargo and equipment using deck cranes, for example, the correct slinging of loads, use of international signalling methods and correct stowage of dangerous goods.
- Anchor a vessel.
- Communicate with others verbally using maritime terminology for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Perform deck operations as appropriate to the vessel type, and on board equipment, for example, plough dredging, survey activities, setting up a tow, recovery of towline in adverse weather conditions, transfer of personnel and equipment.
- Contribute to maintaining vessel equipment including main engines, pumps, emergency equipment and winches
- Respond to emergency situations, for example, deploying life rafts, deploying man overboard equipment, using emergency towlines.
- Undertake running and emergency repairs.
- Create a safe means to board and disembark from a vessel.
- Recognise and respond to the signs of fatigue in self and others.
- Prepare food on board.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations.
- Keep a safe navigational watch
- Use vessel radio equipment.
- Maintain lifesaving appliances (LSA) and firefighting equipment (FFE)
- Follow safe working practices.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion policies.
- Complete security checks for persons boarding a vessel
- Moor a vessel.
- Unmoor a vessel.
- Follow safe working practices under the organisational safety management system (SMS)
- Record or enter information - electronic or paper based, for example, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, work sheets, checklists.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Use electronic navigational charts to fix the vessels position.
- Apply team working principles
- Operate vessel equipment including main engines, pumps, emergency equipment and winches.
- Support the safety of those on board, for example, passengers, technicians and other crew.
- Maintain a vessel's weather and watertight integrity and take necessary action if breached.
- Operate life saving appliances (LSA) and firefighting equipment (FFE).
- Administer emergency first aid.
- Coordinate a response to an emergency situation.
- Steer a vessel in different marine environments, for example, maintain and alter course when required to do so, taking into account local environment and conditions.
- Manoeuvre a vessel to enable recovery of "man overboard" and the safe boarding of emergency services and authorities.
- Load and unload cargo and equipment using deck cranes, for example, the correct slinging of loads, use of international signalling methods and correct stowage of dangerous goods.
- Anchor a vessel.
- Communicate with others verbally using maritime terminology for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Perform deck operations as appropriate to the vessel type, and on board equipment, for example, plough dredging, survey activities, setting up a tow, recovery of towline in adverse weather conditions, transfer of personnel and equipment.
- Contribute to maintaining vessel equipment including main engines, pumps, emergency equipment and winches
- Respond to emergency situations, for example, deploying life rafts, deploying man overboard equipment, using emergency towlines.
- Undertake running and emergency repairs.
- Create a safe means to board and disembark from a vessel.
- Recognise and respond to the signs of fatigue in self and others.
- Prepare food on board.
- Use information and digital technology. Comply with GDPR and cyber security regulations.
- Keep a safe navigational watch
- Use vessel radio equipment.
- Maintain lifesaving appliances (LSA) and firefighting equipment (FFE)
- Follow safe working practices.
- Apply equity, diversity and inclusion policies.
- Complete security checks for persons boarding a vessel
- Moor a vessel.
- Unmoor a vessel.
- Follow safe working practices under the organisational safety management system (SMS)
- Record or enter information - electronic or paper based, for example, risk assessments, equipment service records, handover documents and manufacturers' documentation, work sheets, checklists.
- Follow procedures in line with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Use electronic navigational charts to fix the vessels position.
- Apply team working principles
Training schedule
The apprenticeship will involve periods of block release to a college based on the Isle of Wight for MCA and RYA training courses. Travel and accommodation will be provided for these courses.
Because of the nature of the work, this post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and Associated Order. Applications of this post are not, therefore, entitled to withhold details of any criminal conviction which, for other purposes, might be considered “spent”.
This role will have unusual working patterns, late nights, early mornings and weekends.
Due to location and working times, your own transport is required, and the business is situated on a cycle route.
More training information
The apprenticeship will provide the successful candidate with a range of skills and qualifications, which will provide good opportunities for future employment. Whilst there is no guarantee of a permanent position on completion, Chichester Harbour Conservancy may offer the prospect of long-term employment for the right candidate.
Qualifications required: English and Maths to GCSE (or equivalent) grade C or 4. If not, Marine Society will assist you in gaining these qualifications during the apprenticeship.
All applicants must have the ability to pass an ENG1 seafarers medical.
Requirements
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- English (grade C or 4)
- Maths (grade C or 4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Team working
- Initiative
- Physical fitness
- Interpersonal skills
- Highly motivated
- 'Can do' attitude
Other requirements
All applicants must have the ability to pass an ENG1 seafarers medical.
About this employer
Chichester Harbour Conservancy is a friendly and welcoming organisation who have an opportunity for a small commercial vessel crewmember apprentice to join the Harbour Team.
The harbour team maintain and operate a range of harbour vessels ranging from dories and patrol RIBs through to a dedicated mooring maintenance barge. The team undertake patrols of the harbour to ensure that byelaws are upheld and to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for harbour users. The team also lay, service and maintain approximately 1000 moorings and navigation aids around the harbour.
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
The apprenticeship will provide the successful candidate with a range of skills and qualifications, which will provide good opportunities for future employment. Whilst there is no guarantee of a permanent position on completion, Chichester Harbour Conservancy may offer the prospect of long-term employment for the right candidate.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Chichester Harbour Conservancy
Jo Cox
recruitment@conservancy.co.uk
01243 512301
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000040041.
Apply now
Closes in 26 days (Sunday 26 July 2026 at 11:59pm)