Ultra Trainee Program

The yachting industry has traditionally showcased the finest in craftsmanship and materials in the thousands of sail and motor yachts that make up the world’s yachting fleet.  The high-end skills that are required to build, maintain and repair these beautiful yachts are at a premium and can only be acquired through experience handed down from time-served craftsmen to apprentice.

At Ultra Refit we believe training the next generation to become skilled yacht industry professionals is an obligation as well as just smart business.  Doing our training “in-house” means we can instil in our trainees the pride, integrity and craftsmanship necessary to keep the world’s most beautiful yachts looking and running as they should.

The Program

Phase One – The Prospect

Trainees come in all shapes and sizes, age and backgrounds with all the strengths or weaknesses found in humanity.  The Ultra Training Program screens and vets “Prospects” for as long as it takes to identify their strengths and play to them while identifying their weaknesses so these can be remedied.  The most important strength a Prospect must possess is the drive and ambition to make a career in the most demanding skills-based industry in the world.

During the Phase One of the program a  Prospect will do everything associated with the first year of an old-school apprenticeship from sweeping the shop floor to running errands.  Once the Prospects dedication has been established he/she will work shore-based in every department as needed until a trade is chosen and the Prospect focuses on their chosen career path.

Before a Prospect can become a Trainee they must show proficiency in the following skills:

Communication, Reliability and Integrity, Basic Reading/Writing/Arithmetic, Teamwork, Machine/Tool Safety, Basic Skills, Basic Materials Knowledge, Workshop Etiquette, Boat Knowledge, Yacht Etiquette.

Phase Two – The Trainee

The Trainee has shown a drive and an ability to learn and has found a branch of the industry that he/she wants to make a career in.  They are teamed with that department within the Company and often with a particular time-served tradesman with whom they will train hands-on in the industry.  As the Trainee progresses they will be invested with outside training including computer, sailing, driving and other qualification courses.

Before a Trainee can become a Tradesman they must show proficiency in their chosen field plus in the following skills:

Advanced Yacht Etiquette, Extensive Knowledge of all Tools/Machines in their Field, Advanced Materials Knowledge in their chosen Field, Basic Sailing/Seamanship and have successfully completed all qualification courses.

Phase Three – The Tradesman

The yachting industry is unique in its global nature and the fact that it involves so many different nations of the world.  To be successful the industry, the yachts, the companies that support it and the people who make it up, must be exposed to each country’s cultures.  Though Ultra Refit does that for Trainees by employing skilled people from around the world we believe that ultimately the Trainee must work aboard a yacht or go overseas to gain experience in a shipyard or service company in another country.  We know from experience that the tradesman who returns home from this experience is a confident, well-rounded craftsman/technician ready to start  training a Prospect of their own.   Ultra Yacht Refit is always working with yachts and foreign companies, to provide work experience for our best Trainees.

If you would like more information on how you could take part in training the yachting industries next generation of skilled Tradesman and technicians please get in touch.