Vicki Crossley

Co-ordinating British Marine’s busy calendar of training events at home and overseas is no mean feat. We meet the person tasked with making all this happen, Training and Events Executive, Vicki Crossley...

Despite being new to the British Marine team – and to the marine industry – Training and Events Executive, Vicki Crossley is already having an impact. As the newest member of the British Marine staff, Vicki joined the team just one week before the 2024 Southampton International Boat Show. She says she found herself “in the deep end” – but in the best possible way! “I was so pleased to join the team in time for the boat show, as it’s such an important event for the association,” she says. “It gave me a fantastic insight into the industry as a whole and it was a great opportunity for me to experience the event, meet key contacts, and of course to support the wider team.”

British Marine’s Training team is headed by Manj Mahey, Head of Training, and includes Vicki in her Executive role, alongside the End Point Assessment Manager and End Point Assessment Coordinator.

Day to day, Vicki is responsible for managing British Marine’s calendar of Training events for members and non-members - of which around six or seven typically run per month – and her primary focus is on scheduling events and co-ordinating logistics. Events are held both in the UK and overseas, and often overlap, so exceptional organisational skills, a flexible approach and a keen eye for detail are essential attributes. Vicki is perfectly suited to this role, transferring many skills from her previous job as PA to the Directors of a high-profile sporting organisation, a highly dynamic role which she held for over 10 years. Her proven ability to manage priorities – often conflicting – is also invaluable, and, she says, it helps that she “loves spreadsheets”!  

Now, stepping into the marine world for the first time, Vicki has enjoyed a friendly and positive reception, and describes her transition as “fascinating” and “fast-paced”.

Collaborating closely with the Public Affairs and Technical teams in particular, another key part of Vicki’s role is to ensure that course content is relevant and up to date, in line with the latest legislation and good practise recommendations. She understands that creating good value for course attendees and businesses is vital. Collating feedback is key to that. “If there are any aspects that we can improve on, then it’s essential to identify and address them; it’s not just about delivering what we, as British Marine, feel is best but about meeting the expectations and needs of delegates. By doing so, we can secure future uptake and continued demand for our courses, ensuring we are effectively fulfilling the requirements of the industry.” 

Vicki herself has a fundamental passion for lifelong learning and a strong belief in personal progression – key aspects that sparked her initial attraction to this role. During the Southampton International Boat Show, the opportunity to see over 100 marine industry apprentices taking part in a graduation ceremony in celebration of their achievements was particularly inspiring.

“Being part of the team that facilitates opportunities for young people to continue learning beyond school is incredibly rewarding. Equally fulfilling is our work in promoting professional development opportunities for those already employed within the industry; our Marina Manager courses, for example, on which I’ve been working closely with the TYHA team to develop my knowledge and understand the training and resource base available. I’m aware that these initiatives provide immense value not just for individuals but also contribute to building a stronger, more skilled industry overall.

Across all of the events she manages, Vicki liaises closely with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure details are made widely available in advance across British Marine’s social media channels.

Vicki welcomes questions and feedback on upcoming training and events, from both members and non-members. She also notes: “We’re currently reviewing our booking process to streamline the administrative process, both for delegates and our in-house team. Looking further ahead, I will also be reviewing the information available about our courses online, to ensure as much detail as possible is available. However, people are always very welcome to get in touch if they have any questions.”   

As the key point of contact for queries coming into the Training department, as well as handling all the admin for course delegates, Vicki engages with a high number of individuals. She often goes the extra mile by dialling into courses and events, if she is unable to attend in person, to add a personal touch and connect faces to names.  

Some of the queries the department receives relate to British Marine’s government-recognised status as an End Point Assessment Organisation for Apprenticeships, and Vicki has been working hard to increase her knowledge in this area, working closely with Manj and End Point Assessment Co-ordinator, Owen.

This highlights the strong team ethos among Vicki and her colleagues - an approach she values highly herself and has found to permeate across British Marine. “It’s incredible what the organisation achieves; with a relatively small staff that could be a challenge, but it doesn’t limit us; I have found everyone to be really focused, driven, and committed to providing a high level of service, there’s a great ethos.”