Bursaries offered to help people retrain in boatbuilding at the International Boatbuilding Training College in Portsmouth

The International Boatbuilding Training College, at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, is one of one of 445 heritage organisations across the country to receive a financial boost from the government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.

It is offering bursaries to help fund up to 70 per cent of the costs of a full-time 12-month traditional boatbuilding course.

The courses, which lead to an IBTC Diploma, will start in March and September 2021 and March 2022. Students will also gain a City and Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Boatbuilding.

A spokeswoman said: ‘The training offered is some of the very best of its kind in the country and graduates find employment in a wide range of areas beyond boatbuilding - carpentry in the building industry, furniture making, restoration of historic buildings and parquet flooring among others. You need no particular experience, simply an aptitude to work with your hands and a willingness to work hard – the team at IBTC Portsmouth can teach you the rest!’

Go to ibtcportsmouth.co.uk​​​​​​