The yacht industry faces an imminent challenge: a shallow talent pool, low retention rates and skilled labor shortages. We are losing the true craftsmen of the trade. Now, there's an untapped potential in young recruits from less traditional backgrounds waiting to be explored.

The yacht industry is navigating through tricky waters, heavily affected by a dwindling skilled labor pool and low retention rates. The traditional reliance on insular networks and familiar circles for recruitment has left us with limited scope for fresh talent. However, there's an unexplored reservoir of potential in young people coming from less traditional, urban, non-coastal areas. These young individuals could herald a wave of fresh energy and dedication, making yachting a respectable vocational choice, especially when the cost of higher education at an all-time high and debt is on the rise. It's time that we broaden our horizons, expose the young generation to industries like ours and encouraged them to understand how things work. The pressing demand is to shift the focus of the typical education system from training desk clerks towards nurturing future engineers, welders and carpenters.