17 July 2026
For several years, British Marine Scotland members have been telling us the same thing; finding skilled people is becoming harder - marine engineers, electrical technicians, composites specialists, boatbuilders, the list goes on…
At first, it was easy to assume these were isolated problems. They weren’t.
The more we listened, the more it became clear that something bigger was happening. That’s why British Marine Scotland commissioned an independent review of shore-based marine technical skills, supported by Crown Estate Scotland. The result of this in-depth research was the Building Scotland’s Marine Skills Pipeline Report.
The focus was on our sector: the leisure, light commercial and coastal marine industries that are the glue holding many of Scotland’s coastal communities together. Too often, Scotland’s maritime conversation is dominated by large ships, major ports and offshore projects. Yet many of the smaller businesses that keep our harbours, marinas, workboats, fishing vessels, aquaculture operations and leisure fleets operating are struggling to find the skilled people they need.
The findings were sobering. The current apprenticeship system is failing much of Scotland’s marine sector. Marine engineering, marine electrical and electronics, composites and boatbuilding are all essential to Scotland’s marine economy, yet employers told us the same thing again and again: the people simply aren’t there.
There is no clear route into many of these careers. Employers told us that some courses and qualifications do not fully meet their needs. In some areas, the training simply does not exist. And the consequences are already being felt. Businesses are struggling to recruit. Some are turning work away. Larger organisations are increasingly finding ways to train their own people, while many smaller businesses are being left behind.
The good news is that the research did more than identify problems. It also highlighted practical opportunities to improve the situation. These include developing new industry-focused short courses and micro-credentials, strengthening collaboration between employers and training providers, improving career pathways and making it easier for people to enter and progress within the sector.
Perhaps the most important conclusion, however, was this: the crisis is across different marine sectors and no single organisation can solve the problem alone. Since the report was completed, British Marine Scotland has been sharing the findings with employers, colleges, industry bodies and public agencies. The response has been encouraging. There is widespread recognition that the challenge is real and a growing willingness to work together on solutions. We are now exploring how a wider partnership can be developed to take this work forward.
The challenge is significant, but it is not insurmountable. Scotland has world-class marine businesses, outstanding training providers and a long tradition of innovation and skills. What has been missing is leadership, coordination and a clear plan.
This report was not the end of the conversation. It was the start of one. If Scotland is serious about growing its marine economy, supporting coastal communities and creating opportunities for the next generation, we need to act now.
British Marine Scotland looks forward to working with employers, training providers, government and industry partners to help make that happen.