UK News

Everyone using antifoul should wear the right personal equipment – that’s the message from the British Coatings Federation, (BCF), which along with the RYA and British Marine, has launched a new DIY Safe Antifouling Initiative.

The objective of this initiative is to inform and educate boat owners regarding the hazards associated with antifouling their boats and follows on from an online survey carried out on the DIY use of antifouling paints in the UK.

The survey showed the majority of respondents wore protective clothing but also highlighted areas where improvements could be made, such as providing better guidance and information on how to minimise the risk of skin contact with antifoul paint.

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The Canal and River Trust has released its 2015/2016 heritage report focusing on the actions it is taking to preserve its areas’ historic significance for the future.

In the heritage report it’s reported that at the end of 2015/16 there were 24 individual assets on the national and local Heritage at Risk (HaR) registers, as well as 31 conservation area HaRs through which its waterways pass.

“It’s heartening to see that the passion, expertise and hard work of our employees and volunteers is having a positive effect on the heritage in our care,” said Richard Parry, chief executive at the Canal & River Trust.

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Despite recruitment across Britain’s marine industry increasing by 2.7% in 2014/15, and with a further increase of 2% predicted for 2015/16, new statistics released today at the Southampton Boat Show have revealed that 30% of companies have identified critical skill gaps that are holding their businesses back.

The majority of the workforce growth has reportedly come from the boat manufacturing (20%), equipment supply chain (20%), and boat distribution and retail (15%) sectors, with the industry’s 4,500 businesses now employing 31,600 people.

The statistics revealed that technical skills are perceived to be the biggest “obstacle to recruitment” in the British marine industry’s, with 74% of businesses citing a lack of technical training, such as manufacturing and engineering as a barrier, compared to the UK-wide average of 41%: “For an industry where one in two jobs are boat building and repair and equipment manufacturing (34% and 13% respectively) the need to plug the skills gap is becoming more important for future growth.”

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