New Head at the Helm of Falmouth Marine School

Cornwall’s only specialist college in Marine vocational courses, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steve Taylor as its new Head of Campus with immediate effect.

Steve Taylor has worked in education for over 26 years and brings a wealth of experience to the role. He will focus on technical leadership, ensuring a quality learner experience, strong emphasis on professional development and building the reputation for delivering career focused courses.

His experience in marine based industries will help ensure the college remains a leading provider of post 16 options, ranging from Boatbuilding to Marine Engineering and Marine Biology.

Commenting on his new role, Steve said, “I have a very clear and obvious passion for the marine sector and I firmly believe that it is essential to ensure that our curriculum provision is in line with what the industry needs to benefit our students.”

“This is a great time to join a career focused college and with updated City and Guilds qualifications to help remain current and further development of courses taking place for September 2020, my aim is to get students to understand, learn and achieve in a vibrant and inspiring environment.”

As Head of Campus, Steve will report to Kate Wills the groups newly appointed Vice Principle on Quality and Curriculum, who also brings a varied and successful background in education to the organisation.

Kate commented, “We are delighted to appoint Steve into this role, his vast experience working with young people on both full time and apprenticeship courses will greatly benefit students.  Steve has already spent six years with Falmouth Marine School, his last position as acting Head which he fulfilled with great enthusiasm. We look forward to seeing what Steve can bring to the campus.”

Steve’s career began as a boatbuilding apprentice, after successful completion he then went on to deliver water and land based sports. He then progressed to study a degree in Yacht Manufacture and Surveying; during which time he visited Australia and New Zealand looking at their Apprenticeship Training Agencies (ATA) to gain an understanding of how they worked.

He was then employed by Paragon Skills for Industry in Dorset who held the training contract for Sunseeker International, where he worked with boatbuilding apprentices, helping to develop their own apprenticeship programme.

Steve added, “I get a great satisfaction from passing on skills to others and seeing personal development. I’ve been very lucky to have a career in an industry I care about. I have worked as a Yacht and Small Craft Surveyor and attended Falmouth Marine School as a mature student to study Marine Engineering.“

“I have taken regular sabbaticals back into industry to remain current, which has included refits of cruise ships.”

Steve has managed his own business offering refits and renovations of yachts and small marine craft and over the years has built strong links with other educational partners within Cornwall and Devon.

He is also a proactive member on the training committee of British Marine who are the trade association for the leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine industry, as well as being involved with The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) based in London, where he is leading on their End Point Assessment programme.

Moving forward in his new role, Steve is keen to further develop relationships with local schools and raise the profile of the college to a wider audience. This to be done through the colleges dedicated schools liaison and marketing team.

As Head of Campus, Steve said he will be looking at degree study courses to support student progression and also the introduction of the new T-levels. “I will also be focusing on student support and experience working closely with our expert tutors and learner advisors.”

Steve concluded, “I’m always looking to inspire future Marine Biologists, Marine Engineers and Boatbuilders by showcasing our amazing range of courses and there is no better local specialist college than ours to help boost young people’s careers.”