Shipwright (Boat Builder) Apprentice
BERTHON BOAT COMPANY LIMITED(THE)
Lymington (SO41 3YL)
Closes on Tuesday 31 March 2026
Posted on 19 February 2026
Contents
Summary
If you feel you have the enthusiasm, drive and commitment to complete a 4-year apprenticeship, you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills in a top quality environment here at the Berthon’s Lymington shipyard.
- Wage
-
£15,704 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age
National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Current apprentice wages: 1st year - £8.00 per hr, 2nd year - £10.50 per hr, 3rd year - £11.50 per hr, 4th year - £13.50 - subject to change and review
- Training course
- Boatbuilder (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, days and times to be discussed at interview.
40 hours a week
- Start date
-
Tuesday 1 September 2026
- Duration
-
4 years
- Positions available
-
3
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
A Berthon Shipwright apprentice will learn how to carry out boatbuilding repairs and fit-out onboard private luxury sail/ motor yachts and small commercial vessels, including Royal Navy vessels.
You will learn how to carry out complex internal and external repairs on modern composite yachts.
You will learn traditional wooden boatbuilding skills (frames, beams and planking), how to remove and fit teak decks or decking systems, how to modify engine beds, fit bulkheads and floors, install bow and stern thruster tunnels, make through hull penetrations and install skin fittings and make and fit head linings and interior joinery.
What you will do in your working day:
- Composite moulds
- Complex composite hull repairs
- Stern tubes/ engine beds/ line-ups
- Keels and rudders
- Teak decks
- Deck fittings
- Traditional wooden boatbuilding
- Interior joinery
- Fitting interior and exterior assemblies and components
- Varnishing and finishing
- Sea Trials
Where you'll work
The Shipyard
Bath Road
Lymington
SO41 3YL
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE
Training course
Boatbuilder (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Communicate verbally and non-verbally with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Apply customer service principles and techniques.
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Apply environmental and sustainability procedures for example, segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Follow standard operational procedures when carrying out work processes.
- Interpret information - paper based or electronic. For example, drawings and designs, formulae, risk assessments, manufacturers' documentation, and repair specifications.
- Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store plugs and moulds.
- Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store jigs and templates.
- Apply manufacturing techniques to boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
- Apply repair techniques to existing boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
- Apply surface finishes such as varnishes, paints, and gel coats.
- Select, use, and store materials and consumables.
- Apply surface finishing methods and techniques such as polishing.
- Select, use, and store equipment, hand tools and machinery.
- Apply continuous improvement and problem solving techniques.
- Conduct tests and checks when performing boatbuilding work operations.
- Apply techniques and principles of maintaining the workplace environment to restore the work area.
- Record and document information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, process records, test results, handover documents and original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) documentation.
- Apply routine maintenance and servicing techniques to equipment and tools.
- Apply techniques and principles of protecting surfaces, components and structures during all stages of work operations.
- Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
- Apply team working principles.
- Plan own work.
- Communicate verbally and non-verbally with others for example, colleagues and stakeholders.
- Apply customer service principles and techniques.
- Apply health and safety procedures and safe systems of work.
- Identify and document hazards and risks in the workplace. Apply control measures.
- Identify, organise and use resources to complete tasks, with consideration for cost, quality, safety, security and environmental impact.
- Apply environmental and sustainability procedures for example, segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
- Follow standard operational procedures when carrying out work processes.
- Interpret information - paper based or electronic. For example, drawings and designs, formulae, risk assessments, manufacturers' documentation, and repair specifications.
- Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store plugs and moulds.
- Produce, prepare, label, use, maintain and store jigs and templates.
- Apply manufacturing techniques to boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
- Apply repair techniques to existing boats such as yachts, workboats or superyachts.
- Apply surface finishes such as varnishes, paints, and gel coats.
- Select, use, and store materials and consumables.
- Apply surface finishing methods and techniques such as polishing.
- Select, use, and store equipment, hand tools and machinery.
- Apply continuous improvement and problem solving techniques.
- Conduct tests and checks when performing boatbuilding work operations.
- Apply techniques and principles of maintaining the workplace environment to restore the work area.
- Record and document information - paper based or electronic. For example, job sheets, risk assessments, process records, test results, handover documents and original equipment manufacturers' (OEM) documentation.
- Apply routine maintenance and servicing techniques to equipment and tools.
- Apply techniques and principles of protecting surfaces, components and structures during all stages of work operations.
- Follow equity, diversity and inclusion procedures.
- Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.
- Apply team working principles.
- Plan own work.
Training schedule
Boatbuilder Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard:
https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/st0059-v1-2
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE or equivalent in:
- 5 GCSEs including English and Maths (grade 4 or above)
- Resistant Materials or relevant science subject (grade 4 or above)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Attention to detail
- Commitment
- Initiative
- Team working
Other requirements
Travel between employer and college must be arranged by apprentice. As part of the application process, you will be required to apply direct to the Bournemouth & Poole College to book and attend an academic interview. For course details: https://www.thecollege.co.uk/courses/boat-building-apprenticeship-composites-and-wood-trades
About this employer
Berthon has a long history of training apprentices and also supporting the development of apprenticeships across the industry. You will get the opportunity to benefit from a national and international award-winning apprenticeship programme that will aid your progression. As an apprentice, you will ‘Earn as you Learn’ with competitive rates of pay as well as a national dividend and a Berthon pension (both subject to qualification).
After this apprenticeship
- Berthon retains the overwhelming majority of its apprentice graduates
- On successful completion of the apprenticeship the offer of a permanent skilled contract at skilled Level 1 with a current salary of £42099
- Progression through 6 skilled levels and further training opportunities
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
BOURNEMOUTH AND POOLE COLLEGE, THE
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000016793.
Apply now
Closes on Tuesday 31 March 2026
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.