Women Outnumber Men on Boat Building Course for the First Time

The Boat Building Academy (BBA) in Dorset is experiencing a historic first, with more women than men currently enrolled in its premier course. Established in 1997 by naval commander Tim Gedge, the Lyme Regis institution has provided training to over 2,500 individuals in the crafts of boat building and furniture creation. The current 40-week flagship program includes eight women and seven men. Previously, the highest number of women to enroll in this course was four. According to BBA director Will Reed, the academy has proactively sought to attract more women participants and initiated a bursary program specifically for them. He stated: “There’s no reason why men make better boat builders than women – they don’t. We’ve had some superb women over the years.” He added, “There are some cultural barriers perhaps in the industry which we are trying to change.” The BBA, in collaboration with Belinda Joslin, who founded Women in Boatbuilding (WIBB), commenced a Diversity and Inclusivity initiative slightly more than a year ago. Hannah Lovett traveled to Dorset from Calderdale in West Yorkshire to undertake the course, having previously worked as a restaurateur. She explained: “I knew that working with my hands was the only way I wanted to work, and I was initially thinking joinery.” She continued, “But one day a friend who works with boats sent me a link to WIBB, which I found completely inspiring. A couple of weeks later, I woke up at 03:00, sat bolt upright in bed and knew that’s what I should do.” Lovett also expressed, “I’m so happy to be on the first course to be predominantly women. I love that the academy is making a conscious effort to balance gender diversity.” Traditional wooden boat building was added to the Red List of Endangered Crafts in 2023, where it continues to be listed. This designation indicates a perceived lack of sufficient new practitioners to ensure its viability beyond the current generation. Prior to her decision to enroll in the program, Ariana Cottam’s professional background included roles as an outdoor guide and a seaweed farmer. She mentioned that while she was already interested in the course, the introduction of the new bursary scheme enhanced its appeal. Cottam stated: “I was looking for a change of job and I looked at the BBA years ago but financially I couldn’t afford it and it just didn’t feel like the right time.” She elaborated, “Recently I relooked at the website and therefore came across [the bursary] and there was that sort of shift: ‘I think I know myself more now and am still keen to do [the course]. Now’s the right time.'” The vessels currently under construction by the students are scheduled for launch into Lyme Regis harbour during June. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.