Navigare Yachting country manager Compton Wintz used a one-day marine workshop in the British Virgin Islands to urge that career pathways into the charter and wider marine sector must begin in high school, not after graduation. Photo: Facebook

The workshop, held at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola, brought together industry practitioners, college representatives, and shipping registry officials to outline careers, scholarships, resume writing, professional dress, and labour rights in the marine field. Photo: Internet Source

Speaking at the event hosted by District Three and former House of Assembly speaker Julian Willock on Thursday, July 30, 2026, Wintz argued that workshops alone “will amount to much” unless paired with structured, school-based programs that give students real experience before they enter the job market.  

‘Start in second form’

The workshop, held at the Valerie O. Thomas Community Centre in Sea Cows Bay, Tortola, brought together industry practitioners, college representatives, and shipping registry officials to outline careers, scholarships, resume writing, professional dress, and labour rights in the marine field. Wintz presented on career paths in the sector.

Wintz’s message was that students should begin engaging with the marine industry while still in school, ideally from second form on Fridays and Saturdays, so that by the time they finish high school, they are already working and building a track record.  

"We have to start this program in the schools. If you're in high school, they still start from second form on Fridays and Saturdays. They come into the marine industry," he stated.

He framed this as a practical route for young people who may not be pursuing university degrees in law or medicine but want to learn a marketable skill and earn while they learn. 

According to Wintz, employers can then assess over two to three years whether a trainee is someone they want to bring further into the organisation, rather than waiting until after graduation to see a resume with no relevant experience.

"You can wait until you finish school, then come looking for a job. I want a job. That doesn't count," he said.

Charter companies want resumes with real experience

Wintz stressed that charter companies in the Virgin Islands are looking for workers who can show a resume backed by hands-on experience in the field.  

Current job postings in the territory reflect this demand, with listings for crew, captains, marine technicians, and yacht services managers routinely requiring prior charter or marine operations experience and, in some cases, multiple years in the industry.  Training pipelines such as the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association’s (VIPCA) Marine Apprenticeship and other marine vocational initiatives already aim to bridge this gap by offering intensive, skills-based programs for public school students and young adults.