Cornish marine businesses, colleges and job seekers are set to benefit from a new EU-funded project that will help preserve traditional boat building skills in the Duchy.
A successful £180k bid has been awarded to the Maritime Heritage Skills (MHS) cluster project, funded by the Interreg IVA Two Seas EU programme.
The scheme aims to enhance traditional boat building training programmes which will soon be available for local marine businesses and colleges to use. For job seekers, it introduces possible careers, together with free learning resources and the chance to meet employers through events and conferences.
Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) is working with UK, Dutch, Belgium and French partners to deliver the programme.
Tim Bowerbank, of CMN, said: “Preserving these skills is important in helping our marine business members to sustain economic growth. It is also significant in terms of Cornwall’s considerable maritime cultural heritage. This project is an opportunity to extend our work in ensuring valuable traditional boat building skills are passed on to future generations.”
The cross-border project brings together partners from Tourville Association in France, Cornwall Marine Network in the UK, New Medway Steam Packet Company Ltd in the UK, Province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, the Foundation for Cultural Heritage Zeeland in the Netherlands, and the Flemish Employment and Vocational Training Service in Belgium.
Other associated partners include Historische Werf Rotterdams Welvaren, De Delft in the Netherlands, Vzw De Steenschuit in Belgium, and MidKent College in the UK.
