Maritime Recruitment on a high?

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Two months completed in 2025 and SYR are reaching new highs. We’ve ended February 25% up on last year, a start which in itself was the best in our company history and isn’t showing signs of slowing down.

With green shoots across the maritime world, seeing our customers growing to either cope with increased demand or based on industry expectations is a great thing to see.

It finally feels like the challenges of the past 12-18 months are behind us and that we’re in a period of normality from which businesses can be confident to evolve and develop.

Our move to work across the wider maritime sector has been paying off and we’re noticing huge growth not only in our superyacht management and brokerage sector, but also in European design and engineering vacancies. Welcoming two new major clients to work with us has opened up a number of exciting new high-level vacancies and further proves our abilities in maritime recruitment.

New recruits are also settling into the team and SYR are going from strength to strength and coming good on our strategy for this year.

As we enter the final month of the first quarter, we’ll start to see a lot of those previously sat on the fence starting to make hiring decisions. Jobseekers, now is the time to be sending us your CV and chatting about what could be next.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

Ed

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

My side of the business has remained busy since 1st January. With success in the world of marinas and high level superyacht design, I’ve enjoyed not only making some great placements, but also bringing on board some exciting new customers. Design and Engineering we’re seeing as a key growth area for 2025 and with the wealth of new roles online, we’re taking strides to network heavily in the candidate market.

Senior Interior Designer – Nice
My role of the month seeks a Senior (8+ years) Interior Designer to work with a well known yacht and residential interiors specialist in Nice. The role will see you split across both land-based and yacht interiors and give you a chance to unleash your creative skills as part of a world-renowned team. Experience working with high level interiors is essential, as is an ability to work full time in France.

Email me to apply.

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

A rapid start to 2025, with 9 new offers secured for candidates across Jan/Feb covering sales & purchase, retail charter, technical and yacht management. This looks set to continue across Q2 so if you are considering a change, or are looking to develop your career then please drop me a line.

Yacht Manager – Florida  
An internationally renowned management and brokerage house is seeking an experienced Yacht Manager to help grow its portfolio of services to owners. Candidates must have experience in a similar role with the right to live/work in the United States.

Email me to apply.

LUKE |  Recruitment Consultant | luke@sy-r.com

First quarter madness as we start the final month of the quarter, I can’t quite believe how quickly the time has gone! Still keeping a steady pace across the Skilled Trades desk but Design Engineering is coming at me thick and fast. Lots of prominent specialist clients, looking for niche profiles that we at SYR are doing the utmost to showcase. A consistent and busy month ahead within the Design space, all the while Production ticking along nicely.

Electrical Design Engineer

SYR are representing a rare client who are at the forefront of accelerated research, development and delivery of maritime technology, based in Portsmouth.

• 4-month contract
• Great hourly rate
• Immediate start

Email me to apply.

See you next month!

Ed is raising money for West Wight Sports & Community Centre Trust Limited Solent Swim 2025

Not content with the Ultra Marathon that I attempted in 2024, this year I’m swimming the width of The Solent in aid of the West Wight Sport & Community Centre.

Each year I choose a sporting event to raise funds for important causes and this year, I thought I’d attempt The Swim!

Your support for what will no doubt be another tough challenge for me, would be greatly appreciated as I battle my way across a busy and sometimes pretty treacherous stretch of water!

You can find out more (and donate!) here: www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/edssolentswim

Not sure if your LinkedIn profile is up to scratch?

We’ve put together a little guide to ensure you get the best from the world’s largest professional networking platform!

Choose a Professional Profile Photo

– Use a high-quality, recent headshot.

– Dress professionally and ensure a clean background.

– Smile and maintain a confident but approachable expression.

Craft a Compelling Headline

– Go beyond just your job title—include your expertise and value proposition.

– Example: “Digital Marketing Specialist | SEO & Content Strategy Expert | Helping Brands Grow”

Write an Engaging Summary (About Section)

– Highlight your key skills, achievements, and career aspirations.

– Keep it concise but impactful (3-5 short paragraphs or bullet points).

– Showcase your passion and what makes you unique.

Optimise Your Work Experience Section

– List relevant roles with a focus on accomplishments, not just responsibilities.

– Use bullet points and quantify results when possible (e.g., “Increased sales by 30% in six months”).

– Include media or links to showcase your work.

Showcase Your Skills & Endorsements

– List skills relevant to your industry.

– Prioritise the top 3 skills you want to be known for.

– Ask colleagues or peers for endorsements.

Add Education & Certifications

– Include your degrees, relevant coursework, and any professional certifications.

– Highlight any honours or extracurricular activities that align with your industry.

Build Your Network Strategically

– Connect with colleagues, industry professionals, and thought leaders.

– Personalise connection requests with a brief message.

– Engage by commenting on posts and sharing relevant content.

Get Recommendations

– Request recommendations from colleagues, managers, or clients who can vouch for your work.

– Offer to write recommendations for others in return.

Stay Active and Engaged

– Post updates, articles, or insights regularly.

– Join industry-related groups and participate in discussions.

– Like, comment, and share valuable content to increase visibility.

 

By following these steps, you’ll create a LinkedIn profile that stands out and attracts the right opportunities!

Maritime Recruitment 2025

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Happy New Year and welcome back to the crazy world we call maritime. We hope that you enjoyed the extended break with friends and family and return refreshed and ready to take on the world and indeed the job market!

We write our newsletter off the back of a very busy first week back in the office. Brand new positions, multiple placements closed off and an appetite from a lot of our market to hire across Q1. It’s looking like we’ll enjoy a similarly busy time as we did last year, with yacht management and design seemingly particularly busy right now, specifically at a senior level.

For those of you jobseeking, we’ve put together a short guide for you that you can read HERE.

With the months ahead being the first period of SYR operating across the wider maritime market we’re excited to be welcoming some new clients and visiting some new events, giving us a chance to make our stamp on these new corners of maritime and bring our network a host of new roles.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

Have a great January and catch up soon.

Ed

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

Senior level roles in Design and Engineering are rife at the moment. Our European network are looking to appoint senior candidates, offering the market a range of options for those with 10+ years’ experience. Likewise, shipyards seem to be buoyant in the 30m+ sector with an ongoing order book prompting a need for skilled subcontractor labour and upper management on both temporary and permanent roles.
It’s shaping up to be a busy quarter.

Production Co-Ordinator – Italy
Join a world-renowned Italian shipyard as Production Co-Ordinator, bringing together all the moving parts across the build of 70m+ yachts and ensuring the smooth operation of both internal and external stakeholders from start to finish. A role with great long term potential, an immediate start is available, matches with an attractive salary.

Email me to apply.

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

Happy New Year! We’re back up and running with some excellent commercial opportunities across the UK and the Med, focussing on retail charter and sales & purchase. If you have a relevant CV I’d love to hear from you. And keep your eyes peeled for some exclusive C-Suite roles in Q1.

Retail Charter Broker  
An exciting opportunity for an experienced Retail Broker to join one of the industry’s fastest growing boutique brokerage houses. With a truly international footprint, you’ll deliver charter growth whilst also assisting with sales and purchase enquiries with the opportunity to earn additional sales commission. This is a remote role, interviewing now.

Email me to apply.

LUKE |  Recruitment Consultant | luke@sy-r.com

Christmas may be over but it looks like the cold weather continues to rage on here in the UK but I’m back and ready for action after a well-deserved rest!

The start of the year has proved to be very productive with lots of projects lined up with existing clients. The exciting task of business development is upon us for all the prospects in the maritime industry now too. So as a gentle reminder, if you need specialist support in skilled trades, boat build design, project management and everything in between, I’m your guy!

As a quick round up, January is proving prosperous and busy for me on my desk. Mostly within skilled trades for niche marine projects, so looking forward to these finalising, all the while taking on some new roles in the coming weeks!

Commissioning & Aftersales Technician

Calling all offshore Engineers or Chiefs seeking a shore-based adventure! SYR is working with a renowned boatbuilder for a great new opportunity in 2025!
– Southampton-based
– Competitive hourly rate
– Shoreside position with travel opportunities .

Email me to apply.

See you next month!

Jobseeking can be a minefield and for some of us it’s a challenge to even work out where to start, so we wanted to create a 2025 jobseekers’ guide to help you on your way in securing a new role.

First up and pretty obvious…it’s time to dust off and update the CV. You’d be surprised how often a jobseeker calls us, chats through their search and hasn’t gone as far as updating and improving their CV. Make sure you include your current employment, key career achievements and that your CV is ideally two pages or less in an easy-to-read font.

Do some market research – You’re no doubt specialised in a specific field, so do some research into the key players in your market, companies you’d like to work for and some of their latest projects. Understanding and knowing a company before even applying will allow you to tailor a much more fitting covering letter.

Do some salary benchmarking so that your expectations aren’t too high or low – Understand your market value and where or how you could command a higher salary due to a unique skillset or experience. This kind of information can be fairly readily accessed online or through your recruiter.

Speak to a specialist recruiter in your field – A recruiter worth their salt will be able to open doors to companies you may not be aware of, rally on your side in negotiations and elevate you as a candidate during applications.

Do some solid interview prep – If you secure an interview, make sure you prepare well. Learn about the employer, prepare answers based on the job specification and above all, ensure you’ve prepared some questions for the interviewer!

Listen to your instincts – If you secure an offer of employment, take 24-48 hours to consider your position, seek the thoughts of friends or colleagues and reply in a timely and professional manner. But don’t drag out the decision-making process. In today’s market, someone else will show that bit more willing and be accepted in your place!

Of course, there’s far more to the jobseeking process than this, so if you’d like to discuss your job search in further detail, you can reach out to us here at SYR via email, we’re always happy to assist!

All I want for Christmas is a shiny new job!

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Christmas is almost upon us, and I think the industry is collectively breathing a sigh of relief after a busy yet challenging year. With two major elections and continued unrest globally, the luxury sector has faced its fair share of challenges but is showing a degree of resilience and optimism when looking to the future.

The recruitment space for the first half of 2024 was incredibly strong, however the second part of the year presented more challenging conditions. The team have remained engaged with our client base old and new, keeping placement levels at an impressive level all the way through December, where we’ve seen a resurgence in new business enquiries.

SYR has also undergone a minor facelift, with our branding receiving a tweak to reflect our ever-diversifying customer base. Our capabilities now sit broadly across the maritime sector with our expertise spanning design, engineering, manufacturing, sales and much more.

We come to the close of the year with an extra face to when we started. Luke comes to the end of his second month having made strong headway across both temporary and permanent employment, servicing a number of our key clients and identifying some great new ones to welcome to the SYR family.

Looking to 2025, we’re planning hard for a busy year with internal strategy plans in the final stages of sign-off.

For now, we wish you a fantastic break, a great new year and look forward to seeing you once more in 2025.

Ed and the SYR Team

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

Design and Engineering has seen steady growth over 2025, and this month has been no different. We’ve welcomed an exclusive new client in the form of world-renowned studio Vripack and have closed an end-to-end executive search project in under two months, showing the power of our network in this space.

Senior Exterior Designer – Netherlands 
Join world leading design studio Vripack as their Senior Exterior Designer. A fantastic role, you’ll lead on exterior design, overseeing a small but talented junior team and crafting a range of projects up to 100m in length. Located in northern Holland, this is a long term opportunity with huge potential for the right person.

Email me to apply.

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

The final quarter of the year is always busy as new roles come to market. However, not all opportunities are advertised so please do reach out if you are considering a career change in 2025.

I’m particularly keen to talk to any Sales Brokers or Retail Charter Brokers looking to move; there are opportunities both in the UK and the south of France.

Additionally, any experienced operational staff across technical and fleet management positions are also encouraged to contact me.

Yacht Central Agency Manager  
The Yacht Central Agency Manager oversees the operational, commercial and administrative functions of yachts under central agency management.

This position plays a key role in maintaining client relationships, optimising yacht performance, and ensuring the seamless execution of charter and sales operations.

Email me to apply.

LUKE |  Recruitment Consultant | luke@sy-r.com

Eight weeks in now at SYR and given the time of year and where the market is, individually and collectively we’re all still making strides here.

It’s all go here until we sign off on Christmas Eve, with plenty of interviews and placements being confirmed. There’s lots in the pipeline coming up for a positive finish to 2024 and plenty of planning too, for a prosperous 2025.

Contracting has been my strong suit so far in my short time here at SYR. The nature of skilled trades at the moment is working in our favour. No rest yet but to all those in my network, have a very Merry Christmas and Happy new year to all clients, candidates and prospects ready for a New Year, new job & new challenges!

Mechanical Design Engineer
Are you a passionate Mechanical Design Engineer keen to be involved in some of the most ambitious projects, with a focus on decarbonisation?

SYR are working with a brand leading the charge in maritime decarbonisation who are looking to bolster their mechanical engineering team!

Great role, very attractive salary package & working with some very niche/exciting projects to put you to the top of your engineering game.

Email me to apply.

See you next month!

2024 Coming To An End At Pace!

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We are into the final two months of the calendar year here at SYR and the industry seems to be back at its usual pace. The team are enjoying an active client base with a hunger to appoint new faces before the Christmas break. From skilled trades to executive search, we’re seeing an industry operating at a healthy level and continuing to deal with a busy and challenging order book and refit schedule.

Creative design and yacht management are currently our busiest sectors, showing strong potential both in the UK and Europe to appoint senior level individuals who will assist in handling the ongoing order books. If you operate in either sector, your candidacy would be of strong interest!

November brings our final international event of the year, METSTRADE. I’ll be attending the world’s largest marine equipment show along with attending a number of satellite events and visiting a number of our Dutch clients. I’m still available during the course of the event for meetings to discuss your career plans or indeed hiring requirements, so do drop us a line if you’d like to book a meeting.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@superyachtrecruiter.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@superyachtrecruiter.com

I’m finding the design and engineering market at a senior level to be hugely buoyant right now. With opportunities existing across Europe for those with 10+ years of industry experience, it’s clear that there is a huge need for long term industry exposure and expertise to handle projects at a high level.

A lot of optimism exists around the world of yacht design in the new build sector, with order books and teams busy through to 2026. In other areas, the marina sector is seeing a healthy level of development, especially in the eastern Mediterranean.

Senior Exterior Designer/Senior Interior Designer – Netherlands 
SYR are working in partnership with a well-known and long-established superyacht designer looking to expand and evolve their senior teams in both interior and exterior design. Working out of a stunning office space and in a truly collaborative manner, the studio seeks to appoint individuals with 10+ years in the creative design and development of large custom yachts.

Email me to apply.

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@superyachtrecruiter.com

The final quarter of the year is always busy as new roles come to market. However, not all opportunities are advertised so please do reach out if you are considering a career change in 2025.

I’m particularly keen to talk to any Sales Brokers or Retail Charter Brokers looking to move; there are opportunities both in the UK and the south of France. Additionally, any experienced operational staff across technical and fleet management positions are also encouraged to contact me.

Consultant Surveyor – Yachts – Solent, UK 
SYR are pleased to release a new Consultant Surveyor position to the market. Working on behalf of a boutique office specialising in technical representation on behalf of owners entering the new build market, this position would suit any candidate with deep onboard operational experience, refit PM, shipyard or marine surveying backgrounds.

Email me to apply.

LUKE |  Recruitment Consultant | luke@superyachtrecruiter.com

One month at SYR? Completed it!

It has been a real whirlwind four weeks since joining the business and I’ve been enjoying every moment. Securing some great jobs, onboarding a new client or two, connecting with some great new individuals and making my first placement in my first 13 days – I couldn’t have asked for a more positive first month!

I am finding the market is tough given the time of year and more and more people going self-employed, demanding extortionate rates amongst skilled trades. However, we persevere and hope to secure a  healthy November for SYR!

Shipwright
Are you a highly competent Shipwright with experience in composites and extensive boatbuilding skills? Working for an established boatbuilder in Southampton, you will be working with some prolific projects at a great hourly rate.

Email me to apply.

See you next month!

November brings our final international event of the year, METSTRADE. I’ll be attending the world’s largest marine equipment show along with attending a number of satellite events and visiting a number of our Dutch clients. I’m still available during the course of the event for meetings to discuss your career plans or indeed hiring requirements, so do get in touch if you’d like to book a meeting.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@superyachtrecruiter.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

 

SYR just got a little bit bigger!

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Q4 is here and with it, our busiest quarter of the year. Fresh from the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show we’re hard at work following up a host of exciting leads from across our existing customer base and as a result of new contacts made during the show. With a choice of vacancies in the brokerage space and with a number of industry innovators in the green space, it’s nice to be working with some brand new customers.

It was interesting to engage with the employment market during MYS, viewing hiring trends from across the Eurozone as well as stateside, sharing more key data and insights to help make key decisions. Check out our show report.

We see an industry with a retained appetite to hire and an increasingly mobile candidate market. More than ever, the importance of both parties understanding market conditions is paramount, as this could make or break a placement.

With our new quarter we also welcome a new face to the SYR fold. Everyone, meet Luke Dunton. Luke joins us as Technical Recruiter and will support us across design and skilled trades here in the UK, along with supporting some of our international customer base.

Luke has spent a number of years working internally for the team at Oyster Yachts before coming to join us, so brings a great understanding of technical recruitment and an already impressive network.

As we look forwards, we’re hard at work preparing for METS in just over a month, along with working on a busy selection of roles across the business that total in excess of 50! No time to relax here!

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@superyachtrecruiter.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@superyachtrecruiter.com

The world of design and engineering has remained buoyant even with a slowing new build world, with a host of vacancies coming online in the past few weeks across both shipyards and studios at a range of levels. A real appetite for creative designers remains, but with clients being picky!

Elsewhere, we’ve welcomed a pair of exciting roles to an industry innovator, satisfying our appetite to support the rule-breakers out there and ultimately playing a small part in decarbonising the maritime world.

Head of Business Development 
A lead role working for a top tech brand in the maritime sector. London based but with travel, the role is aimed squarely at developing a B2B strategy and pipeline for an incredible new product. Applicants need to be ensconced in the small craft sector with a passion for growth and an appetite to disrupt. An immediate start available.

Email me to apply.

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@superyachtrecruiter.com

After another successful MYS 2024 I’ve come back with a range of new roles, particularly around the commercial side of the industry.

Charter roles, both Retail Brokers and CMs, are available in the UK, US and the Med and several international brokerage houses are keen to talk to independent Sales Brokers who are perhaps looking for enhanced back office and marketing support. As always, reach out to me directly for a chat about opportunities.

Retail Charter Manager
Are you an established Retail Broker looking to advance your career? Want to work for a great yachting brand with a growing fleet? Then this role could be for you!

The position of Retail Charter Manager is a central role to the company’s charter department, working directly with the company’s Director, senior charter and marketing team and wider personnel to develop the company’s marketing, systems, sales and services with the objective ofachieving increased retail charter deals and the improvement of charter activities.

This role is an excellent opportunity to work and learn from experienced yachting professionals, working on elements of both retail and central agency charters, marketing and financial activities within the luxury yacht industry.

To apply click here 

Meet Luke!

LUKE |  Recruitment Consultant | luke@superyachtrecruiter.com

‘I am joining SYR as working with Ed and his team externally as a partner at various events has shown me that his strategy, approach and tenacity in this industry is something to admire. The opportunity to join him on his journey and build on this brand is energising!

I will be coming to SYR to head up skilled trades and specialised design 360 recruitment for some great clients I have followed since joining the marine sector.

Additionally, I will be supporting in business development for SYR, all the while still being an advocate for apprenticeships on a broader promotional platform!’

See you next month!

 

Now the dust has settled, it’s time for us to reflect on the biggest show of the SYR calendar.  

Monaco Yacht Show 2024 was our third as a business and continues to surprise us with a totally different experience each year! This year….RAIN?!?!

However, despite its best attempts, it didn’t put a downer on the biggest show in the world of yachting. SYR dispatched Si and Ed to the principality for four days of networking amongst our candidate and client bases, bringing together a host of our existing customers and giving us the opportunity to build new relationships as well.

Busy calendars meant that the team racked up an average of 50,000 steps each day, from yacht tours on some of the stars of the show to seeing the show from the water aboard some of the stunning tenders drafted in by the management companies. Our focus tended to sit amongst the worlds of refit and brokerage this year, with not only positive meetings, but candidate interviews and even offers taking place during the show.

New business opportunities however seemed a little slower than 2022 and 2023. Genuine leads remained healthy, though the resounding position of the market seemed to be one more of wanting to stabilise than to chase heavy growth. The knock-on effects of so many macro-economic changes no doubt being felt and a slight hesitancy to make decisions in the face of the looming US election.

That said, some great appetite remains within the larger employers in the market, especially in management and brokerage, seeing opportunities in Europe and the US thriving, but with a challenge to identify available talent in a still saturated commercial marketplace.

Our refit market customers demonstrated how a slow down in new build is driving refit projects, with new roles across two major groups aligning nicely with announcements from within the market of new projects and takeovers to strengthen market position.

SYR again were trusted by some of the biggest names in yachting to continue our working partnerships and are looking forward to a busy end of 2024 and a strong start to 2025. We’re excited to be bringing some great new roles down the pipeline and already have some highly interesting major recruitment projects to jump into.