Chamber of Shipping: Sea Vision UK and The Knowledge Zone take maritime careers direct to students and their advisors

Monday, 1 February 2010 12:00 AM

Sea Vision UK, the campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities, has appointed the Cowes-based publisher The Knowledge Zone (TKZ) to produce career information covering the vital maritime sector in the UK.

The UK maritime sector directly employs over 410,000 people. It is a £56 billion turnover sector, more than double the size of aerospace and agriculture combined and is the largest maritime sector in Europe. Yet research shows that few people understand how crucial the sector is to modern life. Fewer still are aware of the vast range of diverse, interesting and exciting maritime activities and careers.

To help encourage interest in the sector and recruit new, young talent TKZ will produce careers information that will be available in print, online, on mobiles and PDAs, and via learning channels direct to schools. TKZ is well-known within the leisure marine sector as the publisher of Cowes Online, Cowes TV, and the iZone network of out-of-home screens in Cowes, which provides targeted content to the sailing and boating audience.

Sea Vision UK's Maritime Careers magazine will be revitalised by TKZ to deliver valuable maritime careers information into schools, colleges, and universities for use by students and careers advisors. The magazine will carry information on all the key areas within the overall maritime sector. These will include seagoing careers, leisure marine, defence, search and rescue, oil and gas, environment, harbour operations, and many more.

Case studies will be used to highlight the opportunities for employment, with the examples focusing on the experiences of young people who are already employed in each area.

There will also be a full listings section where educational establishments and other training providers can present details of the courses they offer.

TKZ will also be launching a new web site to complement the magazine, where even more extensive information and advice will be available, including the use of video to profile the areas within the maritime sector and to present valuable case studies to help students make choices about career options.

In addition to the print and online resources, TKZ also plans to provide maritime-related careers content to teachers and students via school learning channels and other mechanisms that can deliver the content directly to the student audience, their parents, teachers, and other advisors.

Steve Sleight, Managing Director of The Knowledge Zone said: "We are all very excited to have the opportunity to work alongside Sea Vision UK to deliver maritime-related careers information to young people via whichever media they want to receive it.

"As a new type of digital publisher we are focussed on providing high-quality content to targeted audiences via the media of their choice. The opportunity to utilise our publishing skills to excite young people about some of the amazing career opportunities available within the maritime sector is perfect for us and we can't wait to get started!"

Mark Brownrigg, Chairman of Sea Vision UK and Director General of the Chamber of Shipping added: "The next edition of Maritime will build on the success of the last four editions.
The Knowledge Zone will help us to take Maritime to the 'next level' in several engaging formats favoured by young people. The new approach will help us to reach teenagers making careers choices, their advisors and any student interested in the maritime sector, in a much more effective and accessible way.

Anyone interested in being featured as an industry case study, advertising or for more information should contact TKZ on 01983 245505
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Claire Sneddon, Chamber of Shipping
020 7417 2888

Notes to editor

. With 137 members and associate members, the Chamber represents over 898 ships of about 23 million gross tonnes and is recognised as the voice of the British shipping industry. www.british-shipping.org

. The Chamber is a lead partner on Sea Vision, a nationwide campaign to raise the profile of the sea and maritime sector in the widest sense. Sea Vision brings together over 400 organisations and associations from across the British maritime industry. The campaign promotes the importance and economic value of the sector, to foster cooperation and highlight employment opportunities, particularly to young people. www.seavisionuk.org

. The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) is the shipping industry's body for developing and promoting the training and qualification of seafarers. The organisation is the authoritative centre of expertise and information on careers, qualifications, training opportunities, training provision and skill needs and issues in the industry.
www.mntb.org.uk

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