Viking Maritime Group is one of the UK’s leading specialists in both the recruitment and training of people seeking careers in the maritime industries.
From its headquarters in Dover this ambitious and successful company has built a global presence, with offices in the Channel Islands, the United States, the Philippines and New Zealand, as well as Portsmouth in the UK.
The opening of the £4.5m Maritime Skills Academy in 2016 realised
a long-held ambition by Viking Maritime Group to create a world class centre that would take marine, fire safety and simulator training to a new level.
A successful application for Kent and Medway Business funding supported the construction of a state-of-the-art facility, complete with deep water pool, that today offers over 500 expert courses to more than 5,000 clients annually.
“The Maritime Skills Academy was our vision for a new type of academy offering complete training
Management, they are world class centres with state-of-the-art facilities supporting delegates from around the world,” explains Phil Drury, Group Finance Director, Viking Maritime Group.
“That could be from the cruise industry, private yacht crews
and marine shipping crews or increasingly from those working in offshore, renewables and maritime construction.”
The funding not only enhanced the portfolio of Viking Maritime Group but also had significant benefits to the local economy from supporting jobs in the local supply chain to hotel accommodation.
“This type of funding is essential, especially at this time,” Phil says.
It considers broader benefits than just financial, including local employment, regeneration and other socio-economic factors that traditional funders don’t consider.