South Shields Marine School and the 3rd South Shields Sea Scout Group have formed an official partnership, paving the way for Explorer Scouts to embark on a career at sea by enrolling on the pre-cadetship programme offered at the marine school.
This unique partnership offers practical experience to the sea scouts, who have already enjoyed visits to the award-winning simulation centre and survival facility at Marine Offshore Safety Training Centre on Wapping Street.
Kate Gillespie (Training Provider at Sea Scouts) said: “By giving the Sea Scouts a taste of adventure, we can open their eyes to their potential, and exciting career opportunities. Scouting is all about widening the horizons of its members and exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society”.
The 3rd South Shields Sea Scout Group have been in existence for over 100 years and continues to be a thriving and dynamic part of the community. It has 130 members aged between 6 to 18 years old and are one of only one hundred Royal Navy approved Sea Scouting groups in the country.
By opening the doors to Sea Scouts from such a young age, those aged 16+ can apply straight on to the pre-cadetship programme, which is aimed at learners who will eventually seek a full cadetship with sponsorship opportunities from large, reputable shipping companies or training providers.
Jeremy Gough, Head of School for the Simulation and Responsive Provision said: “The formal partnership with the South Shields Sea Scout Group is a new innovative programme which has already proved extremely popular, with high levels of interest from those who wish to start their careers at sea with us. We support working with local businesses and this partnership continues to improve our offering”.
The partnership helps to extend the marine school’s highly successful track record of developing the next generation of first-class mariners.
South Shields Marine School were recently awarded the UK’s highest national honour; the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.
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