Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

SYR have enjoyed a fantastic start to 2024, with one of strongest quarters to date, giving us confidence that the luxury marine market will remain busy as we head towards the second half of the year. A number of our longer term clients have brought us on board to assist with senior level hires and SYR have delivered on a number of challenging briefs.

We look to Q2 and April as the start of a busy period within our management and brokerage client base, but also the start of our show season. Simon will be attending the Palma International Boat Show to meet with a number of our local clients and to network for new business across the regional brokerage, management and refit markets. Click here to book a meeting with him.

Our jobs board is also busy, with a number of exciting new clients online in the past weeks and further work ongoing to welcome others to the SYR client stable.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

My desk has been incredibly busy the past weeks and months, with a number of exciting naval architecture and design engineering roles coming through with new customers. My focus is and will be around naval architecture and design engineering vacancies both in the UK and Europe over the coming weeks, so if you’re in this line of work, it’d be great to hear from you.

Systems Design Engineer – UK Based
Work with a brand that focuses on high performance and luxury composite yachts based in Hampshire. Bringing skills in mechanical and system design, you’ll be involved in some one-off and highly innovative projects. A passion for yachting is essential along with a working knowledge of high performance systems.

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

A strong Q1 saw the industry job market moving quickly, with a number of roles turning round in quick time. Opportunities are out there for candidates with sales, charter, operations, accounting and technical CVs, so please drop me a line if you are considering a move this season. I’ll be at the Palma Show in a couple of weeks and happy to meet any client or candidate wanting an insight into the hiring market across Q2.

Sales Manager – Hybrid
One of the UK’s most exciting adventure brands is looking for a Sales Manager to lead the launch of a new product within the fleet. Taking ownership of the CRM and sales pipeline, you’ll build a strategy to deliver vessel sales in line with company growth targets. Actively seeking new business, you’ll be a great networker, personable and have a track record of closing deals.

Ideally you’ll be based in commutable distance to the London office, and this is a hybrid role so you’ll be required to spend part of the working week onsite with the company marketing, sales and delivery teams. Travel can be expected, both local and international, including representing the company at various yacht and industry shows across the calendar.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Our CEO, Ed is taking on one of the biggest sporting challenges of his life – an ULTRA Marathon, which consists of an entire lap of the Isle of Wight.

For those of you who don’t know, an Ultra is defined as ‘a long distance race that is longer than a marathon’ – in this instance, it’s the equivalent to just short of 2.5 marathons and Ed is planning to complete the challenge in around 16 hours!

We’re supporting UKSA on this challenge, specifically with regards to the work they do to get young people on the water. The difference even a day on the water can make to some young people is incredible, so we know that the funds we raise will go towards enacting genuine and meaningful change.

If you’d like to support Ed and help him reach his target, please click HERE.

He’ll also be posting monthly updates on his own LinkedIn page and on the days around the event.

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

Here’s a great stat: in February we had a 100% success rate in converting offers into placements!

2024 is showing signs of steadiness, with the indecision of last year seemingly a thing of the past. Across the team we’re noticing that the quality of candidates coming to market and indeed the quality of new jobs coming online is really strong. It almost feels like we’re returning to pre-pandemic times (shhhh, dont tell anyone).

March sees us come to the end of Q1 and performance has been great, bringing us ahead of our targets and setting SYR up for a strong year ahead. Will you be working with us as a jobseeker or an employer this year?

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

Life in the world of design and engineering has remained fairly stable in 2024. We noticed a decline at the end of last year but with a number of fresher roles early in ’24 we’re in the thick of interviews for engineering positions at various levels of seniority.

Elsewhere on my desk we’re seeing an uplift in roles in procurement and also within the marinas world in a variety of locations, hopefully showing signs of a busy year continuing ahead.

Dock Hand/Tender Captain
THE perfect role for a junior candidate. Perhaps you’ve had a couple of years on board but are keen on a role that sees you work partly ashore and partly on board? This role gives you the perfect chance to work both with an UHNWI to manage and captain his 55ft tender and also to work with a superyacht marina facility to welcome yachts to a world class location.

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

Lots of new roles coming through at the moment, and many from first-time clients which is a good indication that the industry is looking to ramp up its hiring as we head towards the Med season. I’m very busy in the brokerage market still, and also interested in Sales Managers and yacht ops/management candidates. Drop me a line if you’re considering your career options this year.

Sales Operations Manager – Monaco 
A great opportunity to help lead and grow one of Monaco’s boutique brokerage houses with a developing presence in the Middle East. Working directly with the company MD, you’ll support the leadership function across sales and charter brokerage by working with the teams to develop new business, manage the existing pipeline and provide commercial assistance around deal closing.

Based in the company’s Monaco office, you’ll have experience in either sales or charter brokerage, or perhaps a commercial role at a shipyard. With a track record of managing and developing teams, you’ll motivate, guide and mentor younger Brokers and whilst assisting the MD with overall strategic planning for the company’s growth in both the Med and Middle Eastern markets.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Hiring the right candidate for a job is a multifaceted challenge. While a candidate’s CV can provide valuable insights into their qualifications and experience, it often falls short in assessing one critical aspect of a candidate’s suitability for a role: their soft skills.

Soft skills, also known as interpersonal or people skills, encompass attributes like communication, teamwork, adaptability, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. These skills can significantly impact a candidate’s performance and compatibility within a team and organisation. In this article, we’ll delve into the importance of assessing soft skills and explaining how we can help you explore effective strategies for doing so during the hiring process.

The Significance of Soft Skills

In today’s fast-paced and collaborative work environments, soft skills have gained paramount importance. Beyond technical competencies, employers are increasingly valuing candidates who can communicate effectively, adapt to change, work harmoniously with colleagues, and think critically. Here are some reasons why soft skills matter:

1. Team Dynamics: Soft skills are the glue that holds teams together. Candidates with strong communication and interpersonal skills can foster better teamwork, leading to higher productivity and creativity.
2. Adaptability: In rapidly evolving industries, employees need to adapt to new technologies, processes, and challenges. Candidates with adaptability and problem-solving skills are better equipped to thrive in such environments.
3. Client Relations: Many roles involve client or customer interactions. Candidates with strong soft skills can build rapport, handle conflicts, and provide excellent customer service, contributing to business success.
4. Leadership Potential: Soft skills often underpin leadership qualities. Candidates with strong soft skills are more likely to inspire and lead their teams effectively.

Strategies for Assessing Soft Skills

Now that we understand the importance of soft skills, let’s explore how to effectively assess them during the hiring process:

1. Tailor Interview Questions

During interviews, ask questions that specifically target the soft skills relevant to the role. For example:

• Teamwork: “Can you provide an example of a project where you had to collaborate with a diverse team? How did you contribute to its success?”
• Communication: “Describe a situation where you had to communicate complex ideas to a non-technical audience. How did you ensure they understood?”
• Adaptability: “Tell me about a time when you had to quickly adjust to changing priorities or unexpected challenges at work.”

Tailoring questions to the desired soft skills helps you assess a candidate’s ability to apply these skills in practical situations.

2. Reference Checks

Don’t underestimate the value of reference checks. Contacting a candidate’s previous employers or colleagues can provide valuable insights into their soft skills. Ask references about the candidate’s teamwork, communication, adaptability, and other relevant attributes.

3. Use Assessment Tools

There are various assessment tools and personality tests available that can help evaluate a candidate’s soft skills. Tools like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), DiSC Personality Assessment, or Emotional Intelligence Appraisals can provide data-driven insights into a candidate’s personality and soft skill strengths.

4. Group Interviews

Incorporate group interviews or panel interviews into your hiring process. These settings allow you to observe how candidates interact with others, assess their communication skills, and gauge their ability to contribute to group discussions and decisions.

5. Trial Periods or Project-Based Hiring

Consider offering a trial period or hiring candidates for project-based work before committing to a permanent hire. This approach allows you to assess their soft skills in a real-world work environment and observe how well they fit within your team culture.

Assessing soft skills in job candidates is essential for building a cohesive and effective workforce. While a CV provides an initial snapshot of a candidate’s qualifications, it’s crucial to dig deeper and evaluate their interpersonal and emotional intelligence capabilities.

SYR can help you with tailoring interview questions, assessing emotional intelligence, and developing assessment tools so that you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of a candidate’s soft skills.

In doing so, you increase the likelihood of making successful hires who can not only perform their job tasks but also thrive in your organisation’s dynamic and collaborative culture.

 

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

2024 has taken off at pace and we’re incredibly pleased to have taken on and placed a number of high level assignments already, with some exciting new positions with new clients coming in as we move into February.

The mood amongst the candidate network seems to be positive, with a wave of candidates applying for positions and a confident attitude towards moving into a new role.

We also successfully hosted our first Superyacht Supper Club at its new home in Southampton, with around 40 guests from across the industry coming out to meet new people and talk about their plans for the year ahead.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

My desk has been taken up with some exciting projects in the world of superyacht marinas and naval architecture where I’ve taken on some new clients on the other side of the Atlantic. Design and engineering are growing as the year continues, but more so in the smaller craft sector with large yachting brands and design studios a little more cautious, though I’m confident we’ll see this change as the year progresses.

Yacht Designer – South Coast
An exciting role with a budding south coast shipyard. A chance for an experienced Designer with concept and surfacing experience to join a small team and work across a host of great new projects. This is a fantastic role for someone wanting to really supercharge their career and make a name for themselves!

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

Another busy period as the industry pushes ahead with multiple hiring projects amongst most shoreside disciplines. I’m particularly interested in talking to Retail Charter Brokers with a couple of years’ experience behind them who can demonstrate a track record of consistent charter sales; some great opportunities here if that’s you.
I’m also interested in native German speakers for numerous operational roles across the DACH region.

Retail Charter Broker – Multiple Locations
A really wonderful client is looking for introductions to Retail Charter Brokers around the Med and internationally. Ideally, you’ll have a couple of years’ experience in retail charter behind you, and if able to demonstrate a track record of new client acquisition and revenue generation then we’d like to speak to you.

The role is hybrid, with several days per week expected in one of the following office locations: South of France, Palma de Mallorca, Northern Germany, South Coast UK (London commutable), Ft Lauderdale.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

We’re back from the Christmas break and it’s all systems go at SYR. With a host of exciting roles currently in progress we find ourselves busy taking candidates through the recruitment process. New positions, and indeed new candidates reaching out to us, have increased since the end of 2023 and we’re optimistic about where Q1 will take us.

With year-ends coming for a lot of businesses in March, it’s a great time to use up your hiring budget or as a jobseeker to be making that move for pastures new.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

The technical desk is thriving right now with roles across Europe in marinas, design, naval architecture and more. A continually diverse range of opportunities across the business has meant we are constantly attracting new candidates and building new talent pools across the yachting market.

Q1 2024 looks like it’s going to continue gathering pace and is a great time to be a jobseeker!

Yacht Club Manager – Caribbean
We’re working with a unique facility that is regularly frequented by the rich and famous along with travelling sailors as it looks to continue to evolve its product offering to a broad range of clients. Located in a busy part of the Caribbean, the facility consists of an accommodation portfolio, eateries and bars and is paired with a world class marina facility.

In this newly created role you will be given full operational oversight of the residential, F&B and yacht club aspects of the facility and be tasked with the growth of the site in terms of awareness, presence, occupancy and revenues.

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

There’s been an optimistic start to 2024 with more clients wanting to discuss hiring projects than this time last year. I’m seeing new job opportunities in various back-office functions, projects and build, surveying and technical. The majority are Monaco based or on the mainland, so candidates with backgrounds in any of these fields are invited to contact me for a chat about their career options.

I’m encouraged by several clients’ proactive approach to the lack of experienced candidates. A few notable companies are hiring for junior positions around their yacht ops and management, offering both training and mentoring to help develop junior staff into competent shore based staff.  An ideal opportunity for any ex-crew looking to remain in yachting but working ashore.

Junior Accountant – Monaco
Do you have entry level experience in bookkeeping and/or basic accounting? Looking to get into the wonderful world of yachting? Then this role could be for you! One of the industry’s leading boutique management companies is looking to grow its internal finance team and have an opening for a Junior Bookkeeper/Accountant. This is a full time, permanent role based in the central Monaco office, Monday to Friday, so please consider your location before applying.

To apply click here 

See you next month!

Collectively, the SYR team has more than 20 years of maritime industry recruitment experience allowing us to provide you with an unrivalled knowledge of the global superyacht market. So, if you are coming ashore, looking for your next progression or even for a complete change of career we can help.

Are you new to the superyacht industry? No problem! Our vision has always been to shake up the superyacht recruitment world and we are working hard to introduce talent from industries such as automotive, aerospace and other exciting sectors, a move that is helping to push innovation in shoreside yachting through projects such as electric craft, foils and new materials usage.

In fact, in just over two years we’ve made over 100 placements, 22 of them have come from outside of the marine industry. Of those 22, most have never even stepped foot on a boat, yet they’ve brought huge levels of knowledge and understanding to the design, engineering and build of craft in our sector. Our mission is to increase this percentage to be closer to 50% therefore introducing new exciting talent and ideas to a very traditional industry.

Our friendly team are here to support you through your shoreside superyacht career pathway with not only the most up-to-date job opportunities, but with practical advice that will enable you to have the best possible progression.

In this article you will find practical tips and tricks to ensure that your CV makes you stand out from the crowd.

We asked our recruitment team for their CV advice, here’s what they said.

Start Strong:

Ed, the SYR CEO, recommends that you use the first part of your CV to give the employer a reason to read on. “If you can hook them within the first few lines you’ve already stepped ahead of the next CV in the pile. Write a short and succinct opening statement with a summary of your skills and key accomplishments.” Ed adds, “Always include success stories and key achievements as this will show the reader that you are ambitious and like to exceed the goals you are set.”

Attention To Detail:

Simon, our Senior Recruitment Consultant for Brokerage, Management & New Build, hates to state the obvious but says “It still astounds me the number of CVs I see with spelling mistakes and bad grammar. A lack of attention to detail could really derail your otherwise perfect CV and make it stand out for all the wrong reasons.”

Dave, our Operations Manager, agrees, “Spend a few extra minutes reading through your CV backwards. It’s an old trick I learnt from my publishing days. Proof readers do it so that it’s easier to spot errors as your brain has to read every word rather than skipping along the sentence.”

Formatting Matters:

When it comes to your CV, the reader should be able to easily identify your skills. This can be achieved through a short company introduction with each position listed and bullet points of key achievements or responsibilities.

Curtis, Senior Recruiter for Skilled Trades, says “Something I cannot stress enough is that ‘you eat with your eyes’ and the same can be said for CVs. This relates to the entire document, the length, chosen font and font size. Avoid using colourful underlining or highlighting and try and keep it clean and easy to read.”

After your opening statement, your professional experience should always be chronological starting with the most recent and then working backwards.

Always include any relevant qualifications, additional training or voluntary work you have undertaken.

Customising Your CV:

We have collectively reviewed thousands of CVs and understand exactly what our clients are looking for.

Ed advises, “Tailor your CV to the job you are applying for to maximise your chance of success. Read through the job description and pick out the key words or phrases that they have used to describe the person they are looking for or the skills they require. Look at ways to incorporate them into your CV so that it’s obvious you are the person they need!”

Whilst we don’t advise you to literally copy and paste elements of the job description directly into your CV, it often helps if you adapt your tone of voice or the way you describe certain skills or achievements to match the way the employer has written them, almost like mirroring a person’s body language during an interview to make them feel like you have a connection.

How Much Is Too Much?

This was a point that split the team who, eventually, agreed they would aim to offer advice on each personal case.

Curtis said, “In my opinion, the CV should contain your entire employment history. If someone has retrained mid-career and now specialises in a new area, the previous positions could be just summarised. It’s always best to shorten rather than exclude information.”

Despite agreeing that nothing should be left off, Curtis concluded that “The important and, moreover, relevant jobs, experiences and skills should be the focus of the CV.”

Consistency Is Key:

Ed adds, “Little things like making sure your employment and educational dates marry up and any career gaps are explained, a one liner is usually fine. However, the most important thing is that you show consistency between your CV and your online profile.”

Employers will usually search for candidates on LinkedIn and will check to see if the online profile matches the CV on their desk so make sure they tell the same story!

LinkedIn is the number one online networking platform, so use it to your advantage. Not only does your profile need to be kept up-to-date but ensure that you are making the most out of your connections, following companies that you are interested in and ensuring you get recommendations from past colleagues.

LinkedIn allows you to show your personality in ways a CV doesn’t always permit. By creating your own posts or by commenting on industry relevant content, you are able to prove that you are knowledgeable and engaged and can showcase your soft skills.

We offer guidance on raising your online profile and can advise which companies and industry experts to connect with so that you start getting noticed.

The SYR team really are here to help so even if we’re not currently advertising a role that interests you, get in touch and we can discuss companies you’d like us to approach on your behalf.

We look forward to speaking to you soon!

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

Christmas is nearly here and bringing with it a close to a busy year across all desks at SYR. We’ve enjoyed working with clients old and new in 2023 and have seen the SYR brand continue to grow across the yachting sector.

We’re still seeing a busy jobs market, with new roles coming online daily and it’s good to see that our client base are continuing to hire all the way up to Christmas, with many roles still interviewing and offering for January starts.

We’re expecting the busy period to maintain through into the new year and encourage jobseekers to spend the break wisely, to apply for that new role!

In further news from November, we had a great time at METS, attending a number of exciting events and engaging with the international markets to onboard a number of new roles. We noted some great new innovations such as the ‘Startup’ and ‘Foiling’ pavilions and attended a number of talks both within METSTRADE and The Superyacht Forum. Take a look at my full show report below.

This closed out our show schedule for 2023 and we’re already busy planning for what we’ll be attending in 2024.

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

Design and Engineering has continued to be busy with new roles coming online at a number of yards that span both commercial and superyacht, bringing a diverse role selection. We’ve made a number of placements for talented graduates too, showing our prowess at both ends of the experience spectrum. Looking forwards, we’ve exceptional opportunities in the Netherlands, Italy and the UK to recruit for into 2024.

Electrical Design Engineer – Liverpool
A challenging and exciting role for an experienced Electrical Engineer to work for a leading brand in commercial and defence craft building. Ideal for a maritime experienced candidate or someone looking to come across from the automotive world. Excellent career development potential!

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

Although the festive break is looming, the desk remains busy with a raft of technical roles covering operational, refit and new builds so I’d encourage any candidate with relevant experience in these fields to reach out. However, all positions are within the EU so interested candidates are invited to consider their personal working rights on the mainland before applying. Once Christmas is done, we will be looking at the start of the 2024 season and I anticipate a number of sales and charter opportunities in the run up to the Med season so if you are a candidate in either field considering your next move, please reach out to me in advance so we can be ready for new vacancies in these sectors.

Having been asked to assist with hiring projects in both family office and private household sectors. I’ll be branching out into both fields in 2024. Therefore, I’m inviting both clients and candidates to contact me directly for a discussion about how we can work together in 2024. Additionally, I’m interested in developing my networks in both the US and ME as I am seeing more career opportunities in both territories. Please drop me a line if you are hiring, or looking for a move, in either region. Happy Christmas!

Project Manager – Yacht Refit and New Build
I am currently seeking an experienced Yacht Captain to assume the position of Project Manager. The successful candidate will collaborate with Project Engineers in Italy and will be entrusted with the management of a fleet of yachts, overseeing both refit and new build projects.

The ideal candidate should possess an extensive understanding of regulatory frameworks, including IMO, MLC, MCA, class rules, flag rules, ISM, ISPS, PYC, SOLAS, etc. A minimum of 5 years of experience in the yachting industry is essential, accompanied by a Master 3000GT certification.

To apply click here 

CURTIS | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Skilled Trades | curtis@sy-r.com

As we come close to the end of 2023, we are wrapping up a few projects and looking into the new year and what exciting positions are on the horizon.

That is not to say there isn’t plenty of work still available during the Xmas/New Year period, if you want a change in 2024 – now is the perfect time to get in touch with SYR to discuss what the next step in your career will be.

We have urgent requirements for Laminators and Boat Builders on the south coast working on a range of yacht builds, open to contract or permanent applications.

Our customer base in Europe is also expanding and there are lots of exciting positions available for those eligible to live and work in the EU – check my job of the month for one such position I am currently working on.

I’d also like to say thank you to all the people I have dealt with during 2023 and wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Paint Manager – Europe
SYR is partnered with a fantastic European brand looking to make big steps forward in the Med market. As part of their growth plans, they seek a Paint Manager to drive the development of their Coatings Department.

The role will require extensive travel, so aside from being based in Europe with the ability to travel freely, your home base is not important. English language skills however are essential, and any other languages spoken are a bonus.

To apply click here

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Three days, 40,000 steps, a shipyard visit, two parties and one international marine trade show… welcome to Metstrade.

Our second METS as SYR, it was a pleasure to visit Amsterdam once more for the biggest and best B2B show that the yacht industry has to offer. A hub of technology, innovation and every product you could possibly think of or want for a yacht, superyacht or indeed, a commercial craft. Some excellent new ideas launched this year too including the Young Professionals Lounge with career talks, the Startup Pavillion and the Foiling Technology Pavillion. A strong nod to the continued work by the Metstrade team to provide an engaging and exciting industry event. Celebrating its 35th year, our Consultants have been visiting this event for close to a decade now and it remains a firm favourite for us.

Arriving in The Netherlands on Monday, SYR ventured south of the capital to meet some of our key industry customers, receiving detailed facility tours which allow us to understand the client better and to be able to advise our candidates in more depth about what to expect when applying and interviewing. A key part of our service offering is our knowledge and relationships with our customers, so days out like this are key.

Back in Amsterdam, SYR attended the annual Vrithink Night Out, hosted by industry legends Vripack. A series of quick-fire presentations on matters such as foiling, emissions and battery charging the event attracts a wide cross section of individuals from across the industry and inspires conversation, networking and indeed the enjoyment of a few beverages over the course of an evening. SYR were able to bump into some old friends and also make some new connections during the evening, paving the way for a successful number of ongoing job leads. Rounding out the evening with dinner with our friends from UKSA and Polaris Yacht Supply, this set the stage for a great few days.

Our time this year was split between The Superyacht Forum and Metstrade itself. Engaging and exciting talks followed by lots of networking and a host of prearranged meetings. This made for a busy and fruitful day, showing that despite its challenges in 2023, yachting still has an appetite for growth. The forum itself offered some great networking opportunities too and was followed by the annual Red Party hosted on site at the purpose built evening space at the RAI. Many thanks to Martin and his team for hosting such an engaging series of discussions and for continually switching up the event make it more and more appealing each year.

Will The Superyacht Group be able to top this event next year? We have no doubt, but we still feel that when it comes to employment, that us shoreside types are a little unheard… perhaps a subject we speak on in the 2024 edition?

Our final day at the show saw us split time between candidate and client meetings. Metstrade is a great chance to meet in a less formal setting and without the pressure of having to sell directly to the UHNW sector. With close to 30 meetings taking place during show hours, it proved a challenging mixture of logistics, time management and reading of the show map! However, we met with everyone we needed to and those who wanted to meet with us. A resounding success though an extra day in the show would always be helpful!

We leave our visit with a host of exciting new opportunities across sales, operations, build and management. A lot of follow ups to come in the next few days as well which we hope will glean further opportunities to round out 2023 and to kick 2024 off to a winning start. We’re already excited for the next edition of this great event.

Welcome to the latest SYR View From The Desk

If you would like to receive this update as a monthly email register here.

Where is the time going? It only feels like yesterday we were putting the October Newsletter together and already we’re into November! 2023 has been a year of two halves and the steady incline in new roles continues with a host of high level international positions being released, signalling that many employers are gearing up for a busy 2024!

Will 2024 see an increase back towards 2021/22 levels when it comes to positions and candidates available? At the moment who knows, but there are some promising signs, especially with some major projects being pushed forward and some big design projects being discussed.

November brings with it our final event of the year, METSTRADE. I’m heading out to the event for a couple of days to meet with a number of our Dutch clients and to see what exciting new products are being launched into the maritime market, plus I’ll be enjoying a number of the talks and seminars from some of the big industry innovators.

The team are hard at work to fulfil a wide range of customer requirements between now and the end of the year, so if you’re keen on a new role or needing to make a hire for a January start, now’s a great time to get in touch!

As always, we’re here to offer advice and practical recruitment support so if you would like to know more about our services, discuss your career or how we can help grow your business, please do get in touch.

ED EWER 
CEO
ed@sy-r.com  | +44 (0) 7920 060 965

TEAM UPDATES

ED | CEO | ed@sy-r.com

Design & Engineering has remained positive and is getting busier into the winter. A mixture of roles of differing seniority have come in and we’re seeing an uptick in applicants. Much of the recent interest has come in the high performance and innovation sectors, however superyacht design is also staying strong.

We’re in discussion on a number of more senior assignments and hope to be able to bring some unique and exclusive roles to market in the coming weeks.

Head of Naval Architecture – Belfast
An incredible opportunity to join a leading maritime decarbonisation specialist in a top level role. Working with some of the most talented Engineers, this role is a strategical post that will see you drive a naval architecture team across a unique set of projects.

A role that requires a very experienced candidate with a background in performance yachting, we are able to offer an excellent package that includes relocation assistance and a great salary offering.

To apply click here

SIMON | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Brokerage, Management & New Build | simon@sy-r.com

Another busy period focussed on operations and technical positions, although the candidate market in both areas has shrunk with a lack of experienced people available on the open market. Fortunately, we offer a range of different recruitment services and through these we’ve been able to create strong shortlists for concerned clients. The desk remains busy with a host of international roles, many of which aren’t advertised in the public domain, so as always if you’re considering a career change please do reach out to me directly to discuss the future.

In other news, I have secured some exclusive positions in The Middle East, Asia and the United States. Candidates with yacht operations, sales brokerage and charter brokerage backgrounds in these territories are in demand, so please contact me and let me connect you with some clients seeking to hire.

Yacht Operations Manager – Saudi Arabia
I’m delighted to present this unique opportunity in Saudi Arabia; an exciting and emerging market for international yachting.
The client represents a fleet of yachts cruising and chartering around the Red Sea and is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to shape and lead the next phase of growth. As part of the leadership team, you’ll be involved in structuring the operational portfolio and spearheading the delivery of a new suite of managed services covering vessel operations, compliance, charter/FO and technical support.

To apply click here 

CURTIS | Senior Recruitment Consultant – Skilled Trades | curtis@sy-r.com

Across the skilled trades desk, we have a healthy mix of contract and permanent work in the UK and Europe. Our reach and customer base in Europe are growing well and we have plenty of opportunities available for those who can live/work in the EU.

If you are a Carpenter, Marine Electrician, Yacht Rigger, GRP/Composite Laminator, or Boatbuilder and are looking for contract work, please do reach out, I have several options available to discuss and all contract roles come with accommodation and travel costs covered.

Whilst completing the process of some recent permanent positions, there is a new batch of interesting roles landing. I am looking for an Engineering Manager with a strong background in both design and production, ideally experienced with setting up a new build yacht. Also, I am looking for an Operations Manager working in the sailing yacht sector, someone with knowledge of sailing yachts (operation and maintenance) and who can manage people and projects.

Marine Engineer – Southampton 
This company produces a range of custom-built boats, each with different specs and equipment onboard – making each build slightly different and giving you a better variety in your work.

We are looking for people with mechanical and electrical fit-out experience from the yachting/boatbuilding sector to join this team. There is a very strong order book with overtime available – which can seriously boost your annual earning potential!

To apply click here

See you next month!