Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

As we fly into the busy charter season, the industry appears to be incredibly buoyant and exciting, with a host of new opportunities hitting our desks.

A particular area of focus and growth lies around the world of yacht design and naval architecture, where we’ve seen a big increase in roles both in the UK and Europe.

Management and brokerage is also busy, with major changes at some of the biggest names prompting an appetite for new beginnings for a lot of candidates.

Event season has started, which has seen our attendance at the YPY, Boat International and Quaynote events and we are looking forward to the latest edition of our Superyacht Supper Club later this month.

Our ‘Above Deck’ feature is also deep in the planning phase, with further exciting announcements to come.

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

Design and Engineering are incredibly busy right now, from small studios through to some of the biggest in the market. A resurgence in design projects and client appetite for new concepts appears to be driving a desire for more creative staff.

Superyacht Design Lead/Project Manager – The Netherlands
A very exciting opportunity to join one of the top yacht design studios in a role that will see you lead some of the largest projects currently under consideration. Suited to a highly experienced Designer with 10+ years’ experience, this is a role that will see you steer creative projects of over 100m and lead a multi skilled team to design and execute groundbreaking projects. A role not to be missed!

To apply click here

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

A busy end to the 2nd quarter with some international clients actively looking for established Yacht Managers, Technical Managers and candidates with charter experience. There is a lack of established candidates in these roles, so if you are considering a move then please reach out as we’re in a candidate driven market currently – a good time to be growing your career!

Retail Charter Manager
The position 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 of achieving 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 

See you next month!

You’re considering a move. Maybe your current role is a bit stale, the relationship with your line manager has broken down or you’re looking for a pay increase.

 You notice a role advertised through an agency so you send an application. A Recruiter calls you back to talk through the position and your experience, with a view to put you forwards to the role and hopefully secure you an interview.

As Recruiters, we work with thousands of candidates a year, hundreds of CV submissions and interviews. A lot of the time the relationship with the candidate is a positive one, but sometimes problems can arise. The following article suggests a number of things you should and shouldn’t do when working with a Recruitment Agent, to help you secure the highest level of success.

DO

Sell yourself – As with a direct application, it’s imperative you sell yourself when applying for a position. Highlight your strengths and key achievements. We write a covering letter on your behalf so giving us as much great content for it will do your application wonders.

Lay out your expectations – When applying, take into consideration the salary and terms that you’d expect from a role and tell us. We share this information directly with the employer, so any information you provide us helps all parties understand the boundaries.

Be honest – This one speaks for itself. It’ll very quickly catch you out if you’re dishonest during the process. Gaping holes in experience or capability will be noticed.

Take our advice – As Recruiters, most of the time we have extensive experience when it comes to how to propose you for a job, whether you’d be successful or whether your expectations are unrealistic.

Check out an agency’s reputation/ability – Given that recruitment is mostly unregulated, make sure you’re working with someone you can trust. Ask questions, read testimonials.

DON’T

Apply for the same role through multiple agencies – Of course, sometimes mistakes can be made and you may not know you’re applying for the same position, but we see on a daily basis an applicant thinking they have a higher chance of success by applying for a job through multiple means.

Lie – On so many levels, deceit rarely results in success. Lying on a CV, during a recruiter call or at interview, will get you found out.

Change your expectations mid-process – Again all too common, a candidate will decide mid-process that their salary demands have increased by £10,000 or the role they were told is office based they now want to work remotely. Going into the process aware of where you stand is key.

Approach the employer directly (unless agreed) – Our experts are here to help you not hinder you. Keeping a single line of communication avoids confusion. A seamless process relies on solid control and clear communication.

Shout at us – After all, we’re here to help!

Follow these simple steps and your experience with a Recruiter should be a good one!

For more tips, feel free to reach out to one of the SYR team!

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

We’re into May already and the industry is showing no signs of slowing down. Both yacht management and manufacturing are hugely buoyant, showing that there is still much confidence in the market and its appetite for growth.

Fresh from our first show of the season, attended by Simon Foulkes, SYR are attracting some incredible new opportunities with big industry names and are working to bring our network a continuous selection of challenging and exciting opportunities.

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

Design, engineering and manufacturing are all looking very good right now. With a wealth of roles in both the UK and mainland Europe, we are noticing a strong appetite from employers to keep their teams growing. With refit starting to cool, we turn our focus to new build and most of our client base are at, or near to, capacity with a steady stream of requirements across their organisations. It seems likely that this won’t slow down until at least Q3, allowing jobseekers optimism towards new opportunities.

Naval Architect – The Netherlands
A leading engineering studio in The Netherlands seek a mid-level Naval Architect to join their growing team. Working on the design, engineering and compliance of some of the world’s most innovative yacht projects, this is an opportunity for someone with large yacht naval architecture experience to accelerate their career!

To apply click here

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

After the plethora of yacht shows throughout April, the superyacht industry has returned in force to focus on the forthcoming Med season and opportunities are plentiful. Whether you’re looking for technical, operations, charter, sales or senior leadership roles, there is probably something on the desk that might suit you. Any candidates considering a career move this season are invited to reach out to me directly for a conversation about how I can help.

Technical Administrator – London or Monaco
Are you an engineering graduate or a Junior Marine Engineer looking to enter the superyacht industry?
This could be the perfect role! One of yachting’s most famous names is seeking a Technical Administrator to join its engineering teams in either the London or Monaco offices.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Many of us know who and what we want to be growing up. Astronauts, Fighter Pilots, Chefs… the list is endless.

However, there is a huge throughput in secondary and higher education of those who want to be a Designer or an Engineer. Some know exactly what they want to design or engineer, others just want to be designing or engineering.

I wanted to put together a short article highlighting why a budding individual may want to look at marine/yachting over and above other transport industries such as aerospace or automotive. I may be biased, but the marine world has a huge amount going for it and is highly worth considering.

Creativity

True creativity in many sectors has continued to dwindle, mainly due to increased restrictions, rules and regulations to govern safety and meet the standards imposed by global markets and rule-setters.

Take a car for example. The automotive world is governed in thousands of areas. Safety (both occupant and pedestrian), visibility, weight, performance and economy. All these requirements mean that whilst a car can carry a different badge and have a few different angles, each vehicle type has clear similarities. Due to the inherent series-build nature and tight margins, a car will always be designed a certain way and likely by huge teams of hundreds, with each Designer or Engineer tasked with an incredibly narrow design brief.

Take a boat however and we face a lot less restriction. We, of course, have safety pressures such as making a yacht watertight and with correct fire safety. However, at the same time we can be highly creative in the end product. Take for example the 24m rule within the world of series built yachts. Global shipyards have taken a rule and exploited it in so many ways that the end products are vastly different and can cater to the needs of a diverse customer base.

Moreover, design teams are a whole lot smaller. Teams of 50 or less are tasked with designing a yacht from a blank sheet, meaning that Designers and Engineers are given a lot of flexibility when it comes to their assigned area of each project.

Innovation

Alongside the opportunity to be creative, the ability to innovate isn’t far behind. In other sectors, we’ve seen major innovation in terms of propulsion, interiors, electronics and more. Marine remains decades behind many other sectors, and this leaves the door open for huge leaps in technology and innovation.

In the past five years alone, we’ve seen technology come to the fore such as wind assisted shipping, totally new hull design and big leaps into autonomous drive systems. In some ways we’re not far off reinventing the wheel in a sector that has existed for hundreds of years, predating planes, trains and automobiles.

More and more marine tech firms are launching and we’re seeking a migration away from the ‘baby step’ engineer sectors of automotive and aerospace into a world where an Engineer can really make a difference in how an industry functions.

If you’re an Engineer with a wild imagination, this could be the world for you.

Working on-site with manufacturing

In yachting, many of the major yards have an engineering office on site and this is surely one of the holy grails for a Designer or Engineer. This is an opportunity to see your work come to life, to support the people manufacturing your work and to make real-time changes to improve ergonomics or to improve in terms of cost, quality or delivery.

Likewise, design and engineering in yachting breeds collaboration with both internal and external colleagues. A chance to work closely across multiple departments and drive forwards new ideas, bring together diverse expertise and work towards a common goal. Many yards will work on full scale mock-ups of projects, giving Engineers so much scope to evolve.

So, if you’re looking to work in a world where you’ll be able to fully exploit your skills and ability, maybe it’s time you considered looking at our wonderful world!  Get in touch and be a part of something exciting!

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

SYR have enjoyed a fantastic start to 2024, with one of strongest quarters to date, giving us confidence that the luxury marine market will remain busy as we head towards the second half of the year. A number of our longer term clients have brought us on board to assist with senior level hires and SYR have delivered on a number of challenging briefs.

We look to Q2 and April as the start of a busy period within our management and brokerage client base, but also the start of our show season. Simon will be attending the Palma International Boat Show to meet with a number of our local clients and to network for new business across the regional brokerage, management and refit markets. Click here to book a meeting with him.

Our jobs board is also busy, with a number of exciting new clients online in the past weeks and further work ongoing to welcome others to the SYR client stable.

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

My desk has been incredibly busy the past weeks and months, with a number of exciting naval architecture and design engineering roles coming through with new customers. My focus is and will be around naval architecture and design engineering vacancies both in the UK and Europe over the coming weeks, so if you’re in this line of work, it’d be great to hear from you.

Systems Design Engineer – UK Based
Work with a brand that focuses on high performance and luxury composite yachts based in Hampshire. Bringing skills in mechanical and system design, you’ll be involved in some one-off and highly innovative projects. A passion for yachting is essential along with a working knowledge of high performance systems.

To apply click here

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

A strong Q1 saw the industry job market moving quickly, with a number of roles turning round in quick time. Opportunities are out there for candidates with sales, charter, operations, accounting and technical CVs, so please drop me a line if you are considering a move this season. I’ll be at the Palma Show in a couple of weeks and happy to meet any client or candidate wanting an insight into the hiring market across Q2.

Sales Manager – Hybrid
One of the UK’s most exciting adventure brands is looking for a Sales Manager to lead the launch of a new product within the fleet. Taking ownership of the CRM and sales pipeline, you’ll build a strategy to deliver vessel sales in line with company growth targets. Actively seeking new business, you’ll be a great networker, personable and have a track record of closing deals.

Ideally you’ll be based in commutable distance to the London office, and this is a hybrid role so you’ll be required to spend part of the working week onsite with the company marketing, sales and delivery teams. Travel can be expected, both local and international, including representing the company at various yacht and industry shows across the calendar.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Our CEO, Ed is taking on one of the biggest sporting challenges of his life – an ULTRA Marathon, which consists of an entire lap of the Isle of Wight.

For those of you who don’t know, an Ultra is defined as ‘a long distance race that is longer than a marathon’ – in this instance, it’s the equivalent to just short of 2.5 marathons and Ed is planning to complete the challenge in around 16 hours!

We’re supporting UKSA on this challenge, specifically with regards to the work they do to get young people on the water. The difference even a day on the water can make to some young people is incredible, so we know that the funds we raise will go towards enacting genuine and meaningful change.

If you’d like to support Ed and help him reach his target, please click HERE.

He’ll also be posting monthly updates on his own LinkedIn page and on the days around the event.

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

Here’s a great stat: in February we had a 100% success rate in converting offers into placements!

2024 is showing signs of steadiness, with the indecision of last year seemingly a thing of the past. Across the team we’re noticing that the quality of candidates coming to market and indeed the quality of new jobs coming online is really strong. It almost feels like we’re returning to pre-pandemic times (shhhh, dont tell anyone).

March sees us come to the end of Q1 and performance has been great, bringing us ahead of our targets and setting SYR up for a strong year ahead. Will you be working with us as a jobseeker or an employer this year?

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

Life in the world of design and engineering has remained fairly stable in 2024. We noticed a decline at the end of last year but with a number of fresher roles early in ’24 we’re in the thick of interviews for engineering positions at various levels of seniority.

Elsewhere on my desk we’re seeing an uplift in roles in procurement and also within the marinas world in a variety of locations, hopefully showing signs of a busy year continuing ahead.

Dock Hand/Tender Captain
THE perfect role for a junior candidate. Perhaps you’ve had a couple of years on board but are keen on a role that sees you work partly ashore and partly on board? This role gives you the perfect chance to work both with an UHNWI to manage and captain his 55ft tender and also to work with a superyacht marina facility to welcome yachts to a world class location.

To apply click here

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

Lots of new roles coming through at the moment, and many from first-time clients which is a good indication that the industry is looking to ramp up its hiring as we head towards the Med season. I’m very busy in the brokerage market still, and also interested in Sales Managers and yacht ops/management candidates. Drop me a line if you’re considering your career options this year.

Sales Operations Manager – Monaco 
A great opportunity to help lead and grow one of Monaco’s boutique brokerage houses with a developing presence in the Middle East. Working directly with the company MD, you’ll support the leadership function across sales and charter brokerage by working with the teams to develop new business, manage the existing pipeline and provide commercial assistance around deal closing.

Based in the company’s Monaco office, you’ll have experience in either sales or charter brokerage, or perhaps a commercial role at a shipyard. With a track record of managing and developing teams, you’ll motivate, guide and mentor younger Brokers and whilst assisting the MD with overall strategic planning for the company’s growth in both the Med and Middle Eastern markets.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Hiring the right candidate for a job is a multifaceted challenge. While a candidate’s CV can provide valuable insights into their qualifications and experience, it often falls short in assessing one critical aspect of a candidate’s suitability for a role: their soft skills.

Soft skills, also known as interpersonal or people skills, encompass attributes like communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. These skills can significantly impact a candidate’s performance and compatibility within a team and organisation. In this article, we’ll delve into the importance of assessing soft skills and explaining how we can help you explore effective strategies for doing so during the hiring process.

The Significance of Soft Skills

In today’s fast-paced and collaborative work environments, soft skills have gained paramount importance. Beyond technical competencies, employers are increasingly valuing candidates who can communicate effectively, adapt to change, work harmoniously with colleagues, and think critically. Here are some reasons why soft skills matter:

1. Team Dynamics: Soft skills are the glue that holds teams together. Candidates with strong communication and interpersonal skills can foster better teamwork, leading to higher productivity and creativity.
2. Adaptability: In rapidly evolving industries, employees need to adapt to new technologies, processes, and challenges. Candidates with adaptability and problem-solving skills are better equipped to thrive in such environments.
3. Client Relations: Many roles involve client or customer interactions. Candidates with strong soft skills can build rapport, handle conflicts, and provide excellent customer service, contributing to business success.
4. Leadership Potential: Soft skills often underpin leadership qualities. Candidates with strong soft skills are more likely to inspire and lead their teams effectively.

Strategies for Assessing Soft Skills

Now that we understand the importance of soft skills, let’s explore how to effectively assess them during the hiring process:

1. Tailor Interview Questions

During interviews, ask questions that specifically target the soft skills relevant to the role. For example:

• Teamwork: “Can you provide an example of a project where you had to collaborate with a diverse team? How did you contribute to its success?”
• Communication: “Describe a situation where you had to communicate complex ideas to a non-technical audience. How did you ensure they understood?”
• Adaptability: “Tell me about a time when you had to quickly adjust to changing priorities or unexpected challenges at work.”

Tailoring questions to the desired soft skills helps you assess a candidate’s ability to apply these skills in practical situations.

2. Reference Checks

Don’t underestimate the value of reference checks. Contacting a candidate’s previous employers or colleagues can provide valuable insights into their soft skills. Ask references about the candidate’s teamwork, communication, adaptability, and other relevant attributes.

3. Use Assessment Tools

There are various assessment tools and personality tests available that can help evaluate a candidate’s soft skills. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), DiSC Personality Assessment, or Emotional Intelligence Appraisals can provide data-driven insights into a candidate’s personality and soft skill strengths.

4. Group Interviews

Incorporate group interviews or panel interviews into your hiring process. These settings allow you to observe how candidates interact with others, assess their communication skills, and gauge their ability to contribute to group discussions and decisions.

5. Trial Periods or Project-Based Hiring

Consider offering a trial period or hiring candidates for project-based work before committing to a permanent hire. This approach allows you to assess their soft skills in a real-world work environment and observe how well they fit within your team culture.

Assessing soft skills in job candidates is essential for building a cohesive and effective workforce. While a CV provides an initial snapshot of a candidate’s qualifications, it’s crucial to dig deeper and evaluate their interpersonal and emotional intelligence capabilities.

SYR can help you with tailoring interview questions, assessing emotional intelligence, and developing assessment tools so that you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of a candidate’s soft skills.

In doing so, you increase the likelihood of making successful hires who can not only perform their job tasks but also thrive in your organisation’s dynamic and collaborative culture.

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

2024 has taken off at pace and we’re incredibly pleased to have taken on and placed a number of high level assignments already, with some exciting new positions with new clients coming in as we move into February.

The mood amongst the candidate network seems to be positive, with a wave of candidates applying for positions and a confident attitude towards moving into a new role.

We also successfully hosted our first Superyacht Supper Club at its new home in Southampton, with around 40 guests from across the industry coming out to meet new people and talk about their plans for the year ahead.

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

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@superyachtrecruiter.com

My desk has been taken up with some exciting projects in the world of superyacht marinas and naval architecture where I’ve taken on some new clients on the other side of the Atlantic. Design and engineering are growing as the year continues, but more so in the smaller craft sector with large yachting brands and design studios a little more cautious, though I’m confident we’ll see this change as the year progresses.

Yacht Designer – South Coast
An exciting role with a budding south coast shipyard. A chance for an experienced Designer with concept and surfacing experience to join a small team and work across a host of great new projects. This is a fantastic role for someone wanting to really supercharge their career and make a name for themselves!

To apply click here

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

Another busy period as the industry pushes ahead with multiple hiring projects amongst most shoreside disciplines. I’m particularly interested in talking to Retail Charter Brokers with a couple of years’ experience behind them who can demonstrate a track record of consistent charter sales; some great opportunities here if that’s you.
I’m also interested in native German speakers for numerous operational roles across the DACH region.

Retail Charter Broker – Multiple Locations
A really wonderful client is looking for introductions to Retail Charter Brokers around the Med and internationally. Ideally, you’ll have a couple of years’ experience in retail charter behind you, and if able to demonstrate a track record of new client acquisition and revenue generation then we’d like to speak to you.

The role is hybrid, with several days per week expected in one of the following office locations: South of France, Palma de Mallorca, Northern Germany, South Coast UK (London commutable), Ft Lauderdale.

To apply click here 

See you next month!