Specialist marine training provider STCW Training UK Ltd expands and set up in the TDA’s offices in Bishops Place, Paignton.
Operating from the Paignton Enterprise Centre, STCW Training has excellent access to water based training facilities and superb connections with Torbay’s Harbour Authority and the Torbay and South Devon Marine sector.
Jason Buck, Investment Development Manager for TDA said: “It is great to see business like STCW training identifying the opportunities that are available in Torbay. Students travel from afar for this type of training and the South Devon Highway supports the underpinning benefits of companies like STCW locating here. Marine is also a priority industry sector for Torbay and the Heart of the South West LEP, with the region having considerable strengths.”
Neil Penman, the director of STCW Training UK Ltd has been providing STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) for Merchant Navy and super yacht seafarers for over a decade.
Neil said: “Torbay is a great location for the business as we use the local swimming pools here and will need a waterfront position for some of the drills in the future. Initial talks with the Harbour Authority have been promising, proving Torbay as a viable option for us.”
The company caters for up to 24 students from all over the world on each fortnightly course. Some of the courses are beginning to increase in frequency due to the implementation of updating training from 2017.
The new ruling requires seafarers to update Basic Fire Prevention and Fire-fighting, Personal Survival Techniques and if held, Medical Care and Advanced Fire-fighting and Proficiency in Safety Craft and Rescue Boats.
Neil added: “New rules come into force on 1 January 2017 requiring all merchant seafarers to update their survival and fire-fighting every 5 years. This means every seafarer in the world of all ages needs to update this year. The company hopes to be able to bring the existing and increased numbers into Torbay for their training.”
Neil grew up in Paignton and is a well known face around the bay. He has been running his company from Plymouth in recent years but has been keen to move it back into Torbay if and when the opportunity arose.
With support from the TDA Investment and Estate teams, Neil has been identifying how to move his business forward and reach its potential from its new base.
