Cruise sector diversity scheme sets sail for growth
A scheme designed to boost diversity and social mobility in the cruise sector is set to grow by a school a year following a successful pilot scheme.
Mundy Cruising owner Edwina Lonsdale set up The Compass Project last year with the aim of highlighting the variety of land-based roles available in cruise.
Having originally run the pilot scheme with 11 Year 12 students from St John Bosco College in Battersea, this year’s scheme has launched with 23 students taking part with Itchen Sixth Form College in Southampton providing another 12 students. The remaining 11 students will come from St John Bosco College.
And now Lonsdale is keen to see a new school join the scheme every year, with partaking students able to get first-hand advice from some of the original pioneers of the scheme.
Lonsdale said: “Every year we will have a bigger intake in order to meet the growing number of interested students.
“Then, as the students end their education and start their careers in cruising, they will act as mentors to the next intake.”
She added since the scheme takes place in year 12, she is also looking at ways to keep students interested in the cruise industry as they complete the second year of their A-levels.
This year’s scheme started at the end of April and will see students make three ship visits, to P&O Cruises’ Britannia, MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa vessel and Silver Spirit from the Silversea Cruises fleet as well as time in various UK offices of cruise firms to learn the wide range of industry roles available.
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