Job title: Boat Builder (May 2026 Intake)

Salary: £12.71 per hour on employment, rising to £14.42 per hour after 6 months

Employment type: 24 month fixed term training contract. Sunseeker aims to offer all trainees a permanent contract upon successful completion of training

Training course hours: 7:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, for 10 full weeks, at the start of your employment

Working hours: 7:00am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday, plus optional overtime, upon completion of the 10 week training course

Working location: Sunseeker Osprey Quay, Portland Beach Road, Portland, DT5 1BL

Training location: Sunseeker Osprey Quay, Portland Beach Road, Portland, DT5 1BL and Bournemouth and Poole College, North Road, Poole, BH14 0LS

About Sunseeker International:

Sunseeker International is a global icon in the manufacture of luxury motor yachts, building market leading products since 1967.

Based and manufactured in Poole and Portland on the south coast of England, Sunseeker is one of Dorset’s largest private employers and is represented on every continent by a global distribution network. Never settling for second best, it’s this spirit of excellence that has driven Sunseeker to its leading position in the marine industry today.

Training overview:

The 24 month practical training programme will commence with a full time workshop course for 10 weeks, 5 week at Bournemouth and Poole College, North Road, Poole, BH14 0LS and 5 weeks at Sunseeker Osprey Quay, Portland Beach Road, Portland, DT5 1BL. In the safety of a new training workshop, you and your course colleagues will learn practical trade skills and the yacht building theory to underpin your boat building competence. You will learn basic; carpentry skills, electrical installation skills, engineering skills, plumbing skills and, marine composites skills. In addition, we will teach you how to work both effectively and safely in a busy manufacturing environment.

You won't stop there. Once your 10 week intensive workshop course is finished, you'll work with some of the best trades in the marine industry to develop your skills at work, recording evidence of your development for a further 9 months before you become ready for your final assessment at the end of your first year.

On completion of your training, you'll be rewarded with a nationally recognised Level 2 Lean Manufacturing qualification and the start of a lifetime opportunity in the marine sector.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to change career. No prior experience is necessary.

Typical duties include:

• Place construction setup equipment in the boat such as lighting, extraction and other safety interventions
• Join yacht components using composite bonding methods
• Install shelving to hull structures
• Lay bulkheads to hull structures
• Build wooden carcasses into hull layouts
• Install cabin structures such as; structural flooring, ceiling structures and panels
• Fit window bands to interior windows
• Cut bulkhead penetrations from markings
• Install cable containment systems through the boat
• Run and label main cable looms through the boat
• Cut composite materials for through-hull fittings, from markings
• Install distribution/white boards into engine room spaces
• Cut and prepare hard and flexible pipes
• Run straight and pre bent pipes through the boat
• Act as a team member in respect of lifting operations
• Maintain workplace cleanliness and organisation & install boat finish protection systems
• Support skilled trades with any other reasonable boat building tasks

What you’ll need to apply;

• We are more interested in your can-do mind-set and commitment to learning a construction trade, than your grades or prior qualifications. You’ll just need to take a very basic Maths and English test at your interview. Those that require development in this area will receive extra tuition.
• The availability to commence employment on the 26th May 2026 with no planned holiday or other absence for the first 10 weeks.
• The ambition to work in a fast paced yacht construction environment (note: this role is not based on the water)
• Some examples of your interest in construction or manufacturing. For example; work experience completed in this field, or personal interests.
• A career history that demonstrates commitment to your previous employers.
• Those that already hold an engineering qualification at level 2 or better (such as an engineering based apprenticeship or a degree in engineering, are not eligible for this programme. Please take a look at our regular roles here; Sunseeker | Careers at Sunseeker)

What will you get in return;

On completion of this 24 month training programme you will have acquired skills across 5 construction and engineering trades, plus the knowledge of how a luxury motor yacht is made.

You’ll achieve a nationally recognised level 2 qualification and the opportunity to build a lifetime career in the marine industry.

We will provide you with a fully funded tool kit including your own power tools plus all the benefits you’d expect from a large employer such as; Holiday pay, sick pay, overtime, safe working environment, life assurance, regular reviews and full pay while in training with increments at week 12 and 26.

Notes:

We are reviewing applications as they come on and scheduling assessment days every Wednesday in May.

Apply here: Sunseeker | Jobs | Search here for your perfect career - Job Information | Apply for Sunseeker Boat Builder (May 2026 Intake)

Interview Days: 6th, 13th & 20th May 2026

Training start date: 26th May 2026