Maritime Charity Column: Inspiring the next generation – Vikki Muir, grants manager, Trinity House

Trinity House is continuing to support entrants to the maritime sector with apprenticeships and internships, says grants manager Vikki Muir

Despite being over a year into the Coronavirus pandemic, it is encouraging to see that collaboration across the maritime sector has strengthened. As part of the Maritime Charities Group, Trinity House was pleased to support the Covid-19 Redundancy and Retraining Bursary alongside the Merchant Navy Welfare Board, Nautilus Slater Fund and the Marine Society. This has enabled seafarers who lost employment due to the pandemic to gain qualifications and many have successfully secured new roles.

Trinity House has continued to meet our core objectives, one of which is to encourage and inspire the next generation to enter maritime careers. As other funding streams dried up due to many changing their focus to the pandemic, the number of organisations seeking funding has, not surprisingly, increased. The 'business as usual' grants have been equally important.

New initiatives have been developed and, alongside our longstanding cadetships and bursaries, Trinity House has recently supported new apprentice and internships.

We have also helped an organisation in the North East to bring their successful shipping programme for schools online. The young people may not be able to visit the port, but through innovation the port is being brought to them, offering virtual work placements and insights to help make sure they don't miss out on the opportunities available.

To say that this has been a challenging period would be an understatement, but it will pass. When it does, we all need to ensure that not only are the seafarers of today supported, recognised, and valued but that the next generation are inspired to join them.