New Marine Fabrication & Welding Skills Bootcamp launches to strengthen Solent’s maritime workforce
British Maritime Training and Assessment in partnership with Fareport Training is launching a brand‑new Marine Fabrication & Welding Skills Bootcamp, designed to equip local people with the practical, in‑demand skills needed for careers in the region’s thriving maritime sector.
The new Skills Bootcamp has been developed in partnership with employers to ensure participants gain the capabilities industry is actively looking for. Funded through Solent Growth Partnership to directly meet regional skills gaps, the course will give learners the confidence and competence to step directly into skilled fabrication and welding roles. The first course will welcome employees from Griffon Marine.
Owen Davies, Partner at BMTA, said: “We’ve developed this course with our partners and in collaboration with employers in response to a clear skills need. The course is designed to ensure learners gain the capabilities industry is actively looking for.
“As demand grows across shipbuilding, vessel repair, offshore energy, and advanced engineering, the new Marine Fabrication & Welding Skills Bootcamp will help local employers access a pipeline of job‑ready talent at the same time as offering people in our local communities the opportunities into skilled, rewarding and well‑paid careers.”
Mark Downer, CEO of Griffon Marine: “We are delighted to be working with BMTA and the Solent Growth Partnership on this initiative and to be leading the way in the Solent area providing opportunities for our team to broaden their skills and so enhance our capabilities and resources. Recruiting and retaining talented individuals in the marine engineering and manufacturing sector is a big challenge in the UK and we are doing everything we can to overcome this, by working with our excellent local partners.”
The course is delivered through a combination of workshop-based practical sessions, classroom learning, instructor demonstrations and continuous assessment. This approach ensures learners leave not only with technical skills, but with the professional confidence needed to succeed in fabrication and welding environments.
Jodi Fair, Regional Growth & Partnerships Manager at Solent Growth Partnership said: “Investing in this Skills Bootcamp is crucial for the Solent region, where our world‑class maritime sector continues to drive economic opportunity and innovation.
"By funding programmes like this, we’re not only strengthening the pipeline of specialist fabrication and welding talent, but also ensuring that people can access high‑quality training across a full range of skills - from hands‑on, manual trades through to the digital and office‑based capabilities some businesses need. This balance is essential for supporting growth, boosting productivity, and helping our communities thrive.”
James Ford, Strategic Partnerships Director at Fareport Training added: “We’re proud to be expanding our partnership with BMTA to deliver this new Fabrication and Welding Skills Bootcamp. Together, we’re opening up practical, high-quality training routes that help people build real confidence and step into in-demand careers. This programme sits alongside our Marine Electrician Skills Bootcamp, strengthening the skills offers that local employers are calling for.”