SPECIALIST boat builder Marine Specialised Technology (MST) has introduced a new apprenticeship scheme.

The Brunswick Business Park-based firm is celebrating its 10th anniversary and is targeting sales of £20m this year, of which about 80% will be exported, having secured record levels of contracts from around the world for its range of military and commercial high speed work boats.

MST is also keen to secure its future through a fully-trained workforce and potential participants for its apprenticeship programme have already had the opportunity to tour the factory.

Sales director Philip Hilbert said: “Our first batch of possible candidates had a tour of the premises and left absolutely buzzing with excitement once they had seen what we do.”

MST apprentices, in conjunction with local maritime and engineering colleges, will take part in a programme that will take them to level 3 NVQ Diploma’s in Marine Engineering over three years, with an option to extend this to an HNC qualification in their fourth year.

During their training they will work in MST’s growing organisation making state-of-the-art military and commercial high speed boats capable of speeds up to 60mph and costing anything up to £1m each.

Mr Hilbert said: “This is a great way for us to source new employees and train them up to our required standards and try and help curb the amount of young local people out of work.”