…with Callum Hughes who is in his third year of a Boatbuilding apprenticeship with Ancasta Yacht Services.
AAS: Do you have a background in boating?
CH: Not at all! I took a part-time job at the Southampton cruise terminal whilst I was at college and it really surprised me how much I enjoyed being in that environment. I had absolutely no idea at the time that I would end up with a career in the marine industry.
AAS: What was your route into an apprenticeship with Ancasta Yacht Services and why did you choose boatbuilding?
CH: I had just completed a carpentry foundation course at Eastleigh college, which I really enjoyed, and wanted to build on the skills and knowledge I had gained. It was a conversation with a family friend where I first heard about the apprenticeship scheme at Ancasta Yacht Services. I did some research and saw a few of the projects that they had previously completed, the quality of work and the variety of materials that they used and instantly knew it was what I wanted to do.
AAS: Can you explain what your AYS Boatbuilding apprenticeship entails and what qualification(s) you will achieve?
CH: I am currently in the third year of a four-year apprenticeship, hoping to achieve a Level 3 Boatbuilding qualification at the end of my studies. I am attending Southampton City College on a day-release basis where we cover all aspects of boatbuilding; with the new facilities at the college it is a great place to learn new skills and share experiences with other students working in the same industry. For work based learning my team leader provides an annual training and skills matrix, which I work through with my workplace mentors. Each year the tasks get a little more complex and technical so it provides the perfect platform to build confidence, skills and knowledge within a supervised environment.
AAS: What do you enjoy the most about your Boatbuilding apprenticeship?
CH: I really enjoy the hands-on element of boatbuilding; working with beautiful natural materials such as teak, mahogany and walnut through to the high-tech composites used in the construction of race boats is both interesting and challenging and being able to see a job through to completion is really rewarding too. I also like being part of the wider Ancasta team, having the opportunity to work on such a wide variety of projects and collaborating across different departments such as composites, engineering, boatbuilding, project management, commissioning and sales makes every day different and exciting.
AAS: Is there a particular area of boatbuilding you would like to work in after your apprenticeship?
CH: Because what we do can be so diverse and complex there is still so much for me to learn beyond completing my apprenticeship. Ideally, I would like to progress through to becoming a team leader, continuing to build on everything that I have learnt so far; however, my long-term career goal is to move into a project management type role where I would be able to develop new skills to blend with the knowledge and skills learnt through my apprenticeship and being in such a dynamic and fast-paced work environment.
AAS: Where can people find out about marine apprenticeships in their local area?
CH: There are so many different areas within the marine industry sector that there is genuinely something for everyone. Whether it is design, technical, marketing or boatbuilding, you can research companies in your area and ask about their apprenticeship schemes. Southampton City College has fantastic new facilities dedicated to the marine industry and collaborates with some of the area’s leading employers, so it is worth reaching out to your local college or training provider as they may know of opportunities you are not aware of.
AAS: National Apprenticeship Week 2026* takes place from 9 – 15 February. What would you say to anyone considering an apprenticeship (pros and cons)?
CH: For me personally I cannot think of any negatives, honestly! Throughout my apprenticeship I have been encouraged to develop my skills and have gained valuable, relevant hands-on work experience whilst working towards a recognised qualification that I know will benefit me for the rest of my career.
*National Apprenticeship Week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. naw.appawards.co.uk
