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On Wednesday evening, Hill Robinson’s Crew Services Team opened their Antibes office to host Bridging the Gap: Bringing together different generations in yachting, in collaboration with the PYA and UKSA. Working onboard a yacht, there is no escaping the different cultures, generations, genders and opinions. You are living together, working together, and you take the responsibility for the safety of guests and each other. If crew are not able to communicate about the one thing that binds them, then there becomes a huge problem.
What was the event about?
Kim Llorente – Operations Manager at the PYA, stated:
“After extensive discussions with our young crew members and experienced Captains and Heads of Department, it became evident that the yachting industry is not immune to the generational divide seen in other industries. Many older generations are expressing concern about the changing attitudes, mindsets, and expectations of Gen Z compared to previous generations. Recognizing this, Kayleigh and I conceived the idea of Bridging the Gap, a platform designed to facilitate open dialogue between different generations. By providing a space for individuals to share their perspectives, we hope to foster greater understanding and cooperation among crew members.”
The inaugural event aimed to gather various members of the yachting community, from different generations and departments onboard, to discuss some of the hottest topics in yachting in a relaxed environment that would allow them to foster connections whilst sharing their opinions.
UKSA’s Industry and Careers Coordinator, Lauren Saltonstall, was keen to get involved due to her role working with junior crew through to those sitting the Master <3000GT modules.
“I work with hundreds of students per year, going into the yachting industry as deckhands or stewardesses, as well as senior crew progressing and looking to hire. The biggest piece of advice I can give junior crew is to utilise the networking opportunities whilst training at UKSA, we are an all-inclusive site, where entry level crew can meet seniors coming to do their OOW or Masters training and have the chance to make a great first impression, whilst learning from those already working in the industry.”
Discussing important topics
Naturally, social media and TV was discussed with the hosts asking, ‘Is social media a useful or damaging tool for the industry?’. All the attendees agreed that reality TV and social media paint an unrealistic picture. Even the younger, and less experienced crew commented that they can always tell if someone has joined off the back of social media without additional research. However, it was also agreed that the media does reach those that may not already have access to yachting – Those from landlocked countries, without family ties, or simply an awareness.
Kayleigh Lidell, Crew Services Manager at Hill Robinson shared her observations from the event, stating that:
“Having a job (any job) shows that you are someone capable of turning up, following the rules and working with a team. All essential skills onboard. Yachting is not a gap–year job. It is not an appropriate first job. It’s not even a job, it’s a career. A yacht is a place to develop your work ethics and professional skills, not where to get them in the first place. A lot of this has to do with the working conditions and safety responsibilities. It doesn’t matter what the job is, by showcasing your work onshore you prove that you know what hard work is and what responsibility truly means.”
Junior attendees, especially from the interior department, expressed they often felt pressured into gaining additional training to guarantee finding work. Senior crew advised that it was best to pick a speciality such as service, housekeeping or mixology, and focus on this, as well as securing work in a local hotel or restaurant to gain further experience whilst searching for work.
Attendee, Harry McNamara, UKSA Crew Training graduate and Junior Deckhand said:
“My deckhand course was good for the connections I made with other candidates in the same position as me, although just doing the STCW course would have been more cost effective and allowed me to get out to the South of France a bit quicker. The powerboat and tender operations modules were definitely needed, and for candidates that are completely new to the industry having the deck skills is a good addition. Having more guidance on visas, seaman’s books, and logging sea time would be very valuable.”
Moving forward
Overall, the event provided valuable insights, and there were few topics which had complete opposites of opinions. Advice was shared from both the junior and senior crew, with respectful discussions and common ground discovered. Each attendee learnt something, was inspired by others, or left with the opportunity to self-reflect. If we are going to fill the skills-gap in the industry, attract the right people to join, and keep them, we need to continue communicating openly. Crew need to be at the centre of the conversation, and other industry professionals should encourage more of these events to allow their views to be shared.
Sophie Rodrigues, Office Finances & Events Manager for the PYA said:
“I found it fascinating to hear the diverse opinions, feelings, and ideas from crew members of all generations and positions. Open discussions where people can learn from each other and share their experiences are always engaging!”
There are already discussions of hosting another edition of Bridging the Gap in Palma, so please reach out if you would like to get involved!
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