Skills England has abandoned plans to remove five maritime apprenticeship standards after objections from maritime employers, unions and training providers.
UK maritime organisations welcomed Skills England’s decision to retain five apprenticeship standards covering seafarer deck ratings, small commercial vessel crew members, near-coastal officers of the watch, marine and boatyard operatives, and marine pilots. The decision, published on October 16, 2026, reverses an earlier proposal to retire the standards because of low enrolment.
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