Creating Sustainable Solutions In The Blue Economy For Vulnerable Youth
Description
The programme prepares vulnerable young people for careers in the Blue Economy, the industries and sectors connected to the oceans, seas and coasts. Working across awareness raising, professional orientation, specialised vocational training and labour market connection, it opens pathways into growing sectors such as coastal tourism, maritime transport, and shipbuilding and maintenance. Delivered in partnership with AIM, the programme responds to a sector that is expanding rapidly while facing shortages of suitably qualified personnel.
Strategic Partner
100
participants in professional orientation programmes
50
participants in vocational training programmes
50
beneficiaries of employability services
Problem
The Blue Economy covers all industries and sectors related to the oceans, seas and coasts, whether directly based in the marine environment such as shipping, seafood and energy production, or on land such as ports, shipyards and coastal infrastructure. The European Blue Economy currently provides around 5.4 million jobs and is set to double its potential by 2030, yet it faces significant shortages of suitably qualified personnel. In Greece, where 17% of the workforce is employed in the Blue Economy and the country ranks second in the EU for Blue Economy employment, vulnerable young people remain largely disconnected from these opportunities.
Solution
The programme raises awareness of the Blue Economy and prepares young people to build careers within it, through vocational training that opens routes into coastal tourism, maritime transport, and shipbuilding and maintenance. It starts with introductory programmes that help young people envision and shape their career path, moves into specialised vocational training in Blue Economy professions, and closes the loop with employability support and labour market connection through an expanding network of recruitment companies. Mentoring and life skills training focused on resilience, teamwork and adaptability run alongside the technical content, so participants leave prepared for the demands of the sector as well as qualified for its roles.
Services
- Introductory and orientation programmes: helping young people envision and shape a career path
- Kitchen Assistant: hospitality training for coastal tourism
- Crew Leader on board Passenger Ships: maritime passenger transport roles
- Catering Staff: service roles across coastal tourism and maritime transport
- Sailing (Skippers): skipper training
- Maintenance and Repair of Ships and Vessels: technical training for shipbuilding and maintenance
- Employability services: mentoring, life skills in resilience, teamwork and adaptability, and connection to an expanding network of recruitment companies
Outcomes
- 100 participants in professional orientation programmes
- 50 participants in vocational training programmes
- 50 beneficiaries of employability services
