The Merchant Navy Training Board’s (MNTB) Careers at Sea campaign is, for the first time, sponsoring an entire day during National Careers Week (5^th-10^th March) in order to promote opportunities in the Merchant Navy.

Careers at Sea will be sponsoring Tidal Tuesday, on the 6^th of March 2018 and will aim to inform schools, colleges and youth groups across the UK of the careers available at sea to young people and the lifelong career prospects that the maritime industry offers.

Careers at Sea is encouraging all shipping organisations across the UK to get involved with this project and are asking that they open their offices and vessels to schools and youth groups throughout the week to bring the industry to life. This will be supplemented by visits from Careers at Sea Ambassadors and a social media campaign that will feature ‘To Sea or Note to Sea’, a broadcast – quality video produced by Careers at Sea with ITN productions.

Fena Boyle, Training and Careers manager, MNTB who coordinates that Careers Manager for MNTB who coordinates the Careers at Sea imitative said, “We are delighted to be sponsoring Tidal Tuesday during the National Careers Week 2018 and highlight an industry that is so vital to the UK but largely unheard of.”

National Careers Week aims to provide a platform to advise and inspire the next generation as they enter the world of work. The Careers at Sea campaign aims to highlight the diverse range of professional opportunities available to young people who chose to enter the UK’s most international sector, at a time when an ageing population and growth in the global shipping industry has led to increased demand for British seafarers.

Merchant Navy careers are an alternative to the university route and provide sponsored training, a professional qualification and worldwide travel. Using high-tech equipment on the most advanced vessels in the world, a career at sea is like no other.

The Careers at Sea initiative also recently won two awards that recognise the campaigns efforts to boost the number of young people entering maritime careers. The ‘To Sea or Not to Sea’ film was awarded Best New Association Video by the Association of Association, whilst the Careers at Sea Ambassadors programme also received the Special Award in the Effective Voice of the Year category.

Here are five ways that you can get involved with Tidal Tuesday:

1. Use Tidal Tuesday as an opportunity to organise a guided tour of your vessel for a local school or youth group.
2. You could also organise a tour of your office.
3. Tidal Tuesday is part of National Careers Week, during which many jobs and careers fairs will be held around the country, you could host a stall at one of these events.
4. If you have been to sea or have stories to tell, that can bring to life what a colourful, exciting and fulfilling industry we work in, you could offer to give a talk at a local school or youth club.
5. If you can’t do any of the above, you can still get involved by posting about Tidal Tuesday on social media and using the hashtag #tidaltuesday and by sharing Careers at Sea content.

For more information on how to get involved, visit the Careers at Sea website.