Falmouth-based Cornwall Marine Academy has been named as one of the best in the UK’s £40bn maritime sector after being shortlisted in the first ever Maritime UK Awards.

Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) created the academy to find solutions to problems reported by local marine employers when trying to employ young people for their future workforce.

Employers said that insufficient employability skills, lack of awareness of career opportunities, lack of work experience and a poor work ethic were holding young people back.

In response, CMA aims to tackle some of these issues and prepare young people for careers in the marine industry.

Aurelie Nollet, director of the Cornwall Marine Academy said: “This is an amazing recognition of the excellent work of the academy and wider CMN team, who since 2008 have delivered careers advice to more than 35,000 young people across Cornwall, gained an excellent track-record of delivering industry-led programmes and embedded sector relevant training into school curriculum.”

Ben Murray, director of Maritime UK said: “Our judges have been blown away by the quality of entries in these inaugural awards. The bar really has been set high and the panel have had a difficult task whittling it down to the final shortlist. Those who have been named as finalists should be very proud.”

Stuart Baker, head of local growth at the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and chair of the Maritime UK Regional Council, added: “We’ve always known the maritime industries are innovative, but these award submissions have really affirmed that.

"We’ve seen some really interesting work that’s taking place and we can’t wait to unveil the winners in September.”

The Future Skills award recognises those that have made a tangible contribution to meeting the future skills needs of the sector.

Cornwall Marine Academy showed evidence of its education and training when applying for the award, including noting its outstanding achievements since January 2018:

· 201 jobs created

· 98 new high paid jobs created (> £17.6k Cornwall ave.)

· 630 participants involved in skills training

· 320 participants involved in work training

· 93 participants involved in apprenticeships

· 64 - number of SMEs creating apprenticeship places for the first time

The Maritime UK Awards are being hosted by the Solent LEP and will take place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour on September 19, as thousands of people flock to the city for the Southampton International Boat Show.