Brockenhurst College is one of three finalists hoping to win the Best Maritime Training and Education Programme Award at this month’s National Maritime SME Awards in London.
Brock was shortlisted for the accolade based on the quality of its Level 2 and Level 3 Pre-Cadetship for the Merchant Navy courses, which are taught at its Marchwood campus.
As one of 162 original nominations, the College will now go up against International Boatbuilding Training College Lowestoft and MLA College at the University of Plymouth to be declared the outright winner.
Brock is one of only a handful of UK colleges to offer Pre-Cadetship courses for the Merchant Navy.
Students secure sponsorship with commercial shipping companies during their studies, which then pay for the next stage of their education – most likely at Warsash Maritime School.
Past Pre-Cadetship learners have gained sponsorship with leading organisations such as Carnival UK, Just Be Maritime and Ship Safe Training Group.
Head of Curriculum at Marchwood, Lesley Chantler and her team will attend the awards ceremony at Woods Quay in London on the evening of September 13.
She said: “We are very proud to be recognised as a real force in academic learning and industry training for the maritime sector by being named as finalists for this prestigious national award.
“Both of our Pre-Cadetship programmes have developed considerably since their respective launches, and they are now affiliated with Warsash Maritime School at Solent University Southampton.”
The National Maritime SME Awards is supported by the Department for Business & Trade and will be opened by Minister for Industry Nusrat Ghani MP.
The event was established to recognise and celebrate innovation and excellence among small and medium sized enterprises in the maritime sector.