P&O Ferries take on New Ratings Apprentices

This autumn, P&O Ferries have successfully enrolled a third new cohort of rating apprentices to add to their workforce. The apprentices come from backgrounds as varied as gardening and railway work and ages ranging from 19 to 25 years old. Four of the apprentices are being taken on as deck ratings and five as engine room ratings, whose roles and responsibilities will be to work on board one of P&O Ferries’ vessels crossing one of the world’s busiest waterways.

The apprentices will need to acquire 12 months sea time whilst studying for their apprenticeship and undertake various qualifications and courses such as STCW basic training and enclosed spaces. Intakes for apprenticeships this year, as previously, with companies such as Calmac, DFDS and Serco were oversubscribed with P&O Ferries reporting 50 applications for 9 positions underscoring the interest in seafaring opportunities from the local community.

Mike Willis, P&O Ferries stated: “The course represents an outstanding opportunity for local people to build a career in a fascinating sector where they will help to sail enormous ships across the busiest shipping lane in the world. As a local employer we are investing in the future and laying the foundations for the next generation of our workforce.” If the last cohort’s experience is anything to go by, the apprentices will have supportive and effective mentoring and training and are sure to have a good footing in becoming a success in the shipping industry.