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Women in Boatbuilding CIC
Newsletter - April 2025 Some of the WIBB community that missed last week’s social have asked for an update….so here it is! Merch After years of requests, we’ve launched the WIBB merchandise range! There is a link on the website…. Huge thanks to Polly and Obi for helping to make this happen. We’ve used TeeMill – which is used by many environmental charities. Seems to be the best option for this….using organic cotton and only printing when you’ve ordered to reduce waste. Hopefully this means the products are also nice and will last….but of course it also means that they’re not cheap. We hope you agree with the principles we’ve used, and some of you are able to include a link on your Christmas list at least. A small contribution from each product will come to WIBB and help with ongoing running costs – around £6 average. All feedback welcome on the range…and would love to feature images of you modeling it if you buy something! Lots has happened this month….. Women in Boatbuilding got a mention in Westminster! After meeting in February with MP Edward Morello at the Boat Building Academy, we got an email from his office asking for notes so he could speak about WIBB and Traditional Boatbuilding in a Westminter debate about Shipyards and local economic growth…..so we pulled together briefing notes with the help of Woodbridge boatyard – click on link below to see his speech. Edward Morello MP - Westminster Hall, UK 18th March 2025 https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-03-18/debates/8440C2FB-A699-4D2E-A364-9BAE92EB3932/details#contribution-8CFCDF4D-A1B4-4B53-AAA1-518CCA9562E4 Yard News Abbey’s moving boatyards! She’s merging with Chris Tuckett and moving to Reedham in Norfolk – exciting times. Abbey has BBA graduate Indie and also WIBB stalwart Shanna in her team at the moment – great to see the number of women working in Norfolk yards increasing. Also moving premises is Enigma powerboats – Debbie Hood’s start-up company is going from strength to strength, which is amazing. WIBB Profiles We’ve interviewed some amazing women and shared their stories on our insta page… Thanks to Claire from All Hands Boatworks in Milwaukee https://www.allhandsboatworks.org/ who runs the Women’s Boatbuilding Workshop – brilliant initiative which has improved gender ratios across the board. Thanks to Ellie Driver, naval architect at SR Structures, UK, who is now racing in mixed double handed race from France to St Barts. https://www.elliedriverracing.com/ - https://www.transatpaprec.com/ Always love growing our bank of women’s stories – these help to empower and inspire others, normalize your careers and raise the profile of women in the industry. Who should we interview next month? Talks Belinda did a talk about Women in Boatbuilding for Ipswich Maritime Trust, which was very well received. About 60 in the room, and lots of old and bold, who were incredibly supportive, which is always nice. She talked about lots of amazing women in our community…..from Paris in NZ to Gail in Scotland…sharing the amazing work you do and some of the challenges women can have in yards. South Devon College celebrated their first ever woman on a welding course last month….and in the article about her, she talks about the challenges of PPE….it shouldn’t STILL be an issue. https://www.southdevon.ac.uk/news/2025/04/01/south-devon-college-student-ebony-burns-through-any-stereotypes-and-galvanises-her-welding-career-into-action BIG GLOVES - https://www.tiktok.com/@south_devon_college/video/7488626585378032898 Great to have a couple of friendly faces in the audience – Thalia from Woodbridge Boatyard and Sarah from Kings at Pin Mill. Thalia was at Spirit with Belinda, many years ago now….and represented boatbuilding recently in a Suffolk Creatives exhibition – photos are amazing - https://www.johnfergusonphoto.com/photojournal/john-fergusons-suffolk-creatives-a-celebration-of-craft-and-community The re-scheduled Yachting Journalist Association talk also happened, with just 6 women from the YJA attending….disappointing from the men of the YJA. Allys are important, especially at this time. EVENTS We had a last-minute invite to the Classic Boat Awards in Knightsbridge at Royal Thames Yacht Club, thanks to Matt at Woodbridge boatyard, which was fascinating. Some amazing boats and craftsmen but not a single woman speaking – there were of course quite a few amazing women there - but it was a very male voice. Jas at TS Rigging was flying the WIBB flag for award-winners – she was involved in Heritage Marine Foundation’s apprentice restoration of Laerling which won the ‘Spirit of Tradition’ award. We would love to see more women represented in the evening next year – hopefully the new Editor will be a WIBB ally. DATES FOR THE DIARY We have some really exciting events and opportunities coming up…. Women and the Wind film screening – Tuesday 13th May - https://www.womenandthewind.com/ A documentary about 3 women that do up a 50-yr-old Wharram and sail it across the Atlantic! Hanneke from https://www.wharram.com/ has been heavily involved with this, and Angie Davies is the producer. The film has just started its worldwide premiere tour – will be in France from end April. In the UK, WIBB has been invited to co-host a Hammersmith (London) screening at the London Corinthian Sailing Club on Tuesday 13th May - info and tickets here…… https://www.lcsc.org.uk/event/women-and-the-wind-screening Kiana from the film will be there for a Q&A, and Obi and Belinda will also be there. Would love to see some other WIBB members/supporters. (Angie is starting her own Wharram build in Normandy in June and will be looking for volunteers. Its going to be a ‘research and story-telling vessel’ - https://www.voyagevirage.com/floating-stories-lab) Sunday 18th May is International Women in Maritime Day. Jane Percival from Classic Restoration Services is offering the WIBB community a tour of all the Dunkirk Little Ships at the Royal Port of Ramsgate before they head off on Wednesday 21st for the 85th anniversary Return. We interviewed Jane last week for an upcoming profile, and she’s been working on Dunkirk Little Ships for nearly 40 years. Abbey will be heading up the tour, so please email if you’d like to go [email protected]. The plan is to meet in Ramsgate at midday – they’re expecting over 50 Little Ships and it will be an amazing opportunity and atmosphere if you’re able to get there. Belinda is speaking at the Yacht and Garden Show https://yachtandgarden.it/it/ alongside fellow WIBB Director Gaia in Genova Italy that weekend. The ‘Italian Boatbuilder’s Tour’ episode has been out nearly 2 months, had nearly 3000 views and is continuing to make an impact. The TRAD – The Thames Traditional Boat Festival – Henley 18th – 20th July Very excited about this one….WIBB have been invited to take 20 young boatbuilders to the Trad this year, to be a part of the festival. We’ve been offered tickets and a camping area (maybe small charge for camping tbc) – and invited to be on the water in the sail-by on Saturday afternoon. There’s music Saturday night, all sorts of stands and things to see…. https://www.tradboatfestival.com/ If you’d like to come and spend the weekend with us, looking at boats and enjoying the festival, please drop an email to [email protected] Southampton International Boat Show - 19-28th September Planning a WIBB stand and would love volunteers to come along and ‘woman’ it – more details at next zoom. Next Zoom Social – THURSDAY 15th MAY – 1900 HRS UK – hope to see you there! Zoom link to follow on separate email. We had a recent experience with zoom which reinforced the need for zoom links to not be in the public domain. In Memory We started our zoom social with remembering Matthew of the Boatbuilding Academy. Many have been taught and inspired by his passion and skill over the years, and he was incredible supportive of WIBB. Will describes him as ‘the heart and soul of BBA’, so we’re all thinking of them and the space he has left behind at the college. Obi will be at his memorial this coming Sunday in Lyme Regis. THANK YOU FOR READING OUR WIBB NEWSLETTER - The WIBB team xxx Huge thanks to Edward Morello, MP of West Dorset for flying the Women in Boatbuilding flag in Westminster yesterday. The debate around 'Shipyards and economic growth' was largely focused on naval and commercial shipyards, but leisure boatbuilding makes up 14% of the industry, and deserves a voice too in these debates. Edward spoke about our work with the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, which is in his constituency, and where we met him a few weeks ago. Introducing him to some of the current students gave him the chance to see first-hand the impact of our work, and the importance of preserving traditional boatbuilding skills. Edward did an amazing job sharing the need for central funding to preserve traditional skills and craft. Check out the amazing latest episode in our 'Boatbuilders Tour' series on the Women in Boatbuilding Youtube channel!
www.youtube.com/channel/UCUhb6m8BaqpYdmkhQVNWMYA    PRESS RELEASE FROM BBA:
Women outnumber men on the Boat Building Academy’s flagship 40-week course for the first time in its 28-year history. The newest student cohort at the Boat Building Academy (BBA) in Lyme Regis, Dorset comprises eight women and seven men. The most women enrolled previously was four - and for two years there were no female students at all. Diversity in boat building has long been a concern, and the rise in female applicants at the BBA is the result of a far-reaching, new Diversity and Inclusivity mission, launched just over a year ago by the BBA and Belinda Joslin, founder of Women in Boatbuilding (WIBB). The multi-faceted strategy puts diversity at the heart of the Academy’s priorities - from the top down - and includes practical and financial support. A five-day Women’s Workshop course now runs annually for women to try their hand at woodworking, before committing to further study. While a new bursary scheme exclusively for women is making it possible for a growing number of women to meet the cost of the course and access the high-level training and career development opportunities it provides. In addition, WIBB members already working in the industry are also actively mentoring female BBA students. Student Sophia Harding from Portsmouth is just 17. Determined to enter a ‘practical’ career she dropped out of sixth form, taught herself to sail and bought an old boat, which she single-handedly restored last winter. The BBA’s new women’s bursary scheme has now enabled her to join the 40-week course. She said: “I enrolled on the one-week workshop out of curiosity. I enjoyed it, but had to see how feasible it would be to get a place on the 40-week course, which would require funding the course privately and moving away from home. “The interview with the BBA involved them ascertaining my commitment, and the game changer was when they announced that I had won a 50 per cent bursary. “During the summer I worked for Urban Truant, a charter boat company, where I saved every penny towards the outstanding fees. They also sponsored a portion of the fees, and in addition, I gained sponsorship from the William Price Trust. “The hard work paid off and I’m absolutely loving it,” she continued. “It’s incredibly challenging as you would expect. It’s inspiring to be part of a group of men and women of all ages, from all over the world and with varying capabilities, who are each equally passionate about learning to build beautiful wooden boats.” Student Hannah Lovett, 38, and from Calderdale in West Yorkshire, has come to the BBA after leaving her career as a restauranteur. She said: “I knew that working with my hands was the only way I wanted to work, and I was initially thinking joinery. But one day a friend who works with boats sent me a link to Women in Boat Building which I found completely inspiring. A couple of weeks later, I woke up at 3am, sat bolt upright in bed and knew that’s what I should do. “I’m so happy to be on the first course to be predominantly women. I love that the Academy is making a conscious effort to balance gender diversity.” The cohort started the course ‘upstairs’ at the BBA, learning the skills which eventually enables them to move ‘downstairs’ and begin the long and challenging process of building four wooden boats from scratch. These boats will be proudly launched, in line with tradition, into Lyme Regis harbour next June. Belinda Joslin of Women in Boatbuilding said: “The BBA is an amazingly inclusive and welcoming environment for women, so we're delighted to have helped more women to feel that it's a space they belong in and are welcome in. This success story is proof that the DEI strategy worked and we hope the wider industry will learn from the measures that BBA have taken, and put more of a priority on DEI to tackle the skills shortage in boatbuilding nationwide.” BBA Director Will Reed agreed: “It’s deeply encouraging to see so many talented women on the course. “We have an exciting strategy in place to further promote diversity and inclusion in the industry and look forward to seeing these and many more young women go on to exciting careers in boat building.” Ends Picture captions: Sophia Harding and Hannah Lovett are members of the new 40-week course cohort which is predominantly female for the first time in its history. Members of the new cohort outside the BBA in Lyme Regis. www.boatbuildingacademy.com The BBA was founded in 1997 by naval commander Tim Gedge and has trained over 2500 people in boat building and furniture making. Many students have gone on to work at some of the top boatyards in the world. Women in Boatbuilding is a Community Interest Company that supports and celebrates the work of women who work hands-on in boatbuilding and related marine trades round the world. Boatyards, boatbuilding and the maritime industry as a whole continue to be heavily male-dominated. WIBB shares the stories of the women working in the industry to inspire others and offer support to colleges and yards who want to improve their gender diversity. www.womeninboatbuilding.com Boat Building was placed on the Red List of Endangered Crafts in 2023. This status is given when there is believed to be insufficient growth in the number of practitioners to make the craft viable following the present generation.  The second Women in Boatbuilding Christmas Gathering will be held from 10.30am on Saturday 7 December.
A full day of activities and networking are planned, enabling women working hands-on in boatbuilding and related marine trades to meet, support, learn and grow from each other. The day will start with a private viewing of Victory Live: The Big Repair - showcasing the ten year conservation programme currently taking place on Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory. Visitors will also get an exclusive look at the work of the shipwrights onboard HMS Warrior, the largest and most powerful warship of Queen Victoria’s fleet. Events will be led by the shipwrights who are part of the talented team preserving these historic ships. This will be followed by a rope demonstration of practical knots and methods used by the shipwrights in the yard. In the afternoon, the group will tour the Lloyds Register Heritage Foundation SHE-SEES exhibition situated in Boathouse No4, that celebrates the work of women – past and present - in the maritime world. Members of the community will then share some of their own stories and experiences, including Norfolk Boatbuilder Abbey Molyneux and Italian Boatbuilder Gaia Brojano. Both women were recently invited to speak at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in NW Pacific US, and their stories inspired and amazed festival goers, including internationally-acclaimed technical author Nigel Calder. ‘Abbey’s talk in Port Townsend was the best I have ever watched.’ ‘We’re delighted to be gathering in Portsmouth this Christmas – the combination of the SHE_SEES exhibition, and the diverse workforce on the historic ships means that it’s the perfect environment to gather and celebrate the work that women are involved with in the industry.’ Belinda Joslin, Founder Women in Boatbuilding CIC Limited places are available to book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/womeninboatbuilding We welcome anyone working in boatbuilding or related trades to join us. The Women in Boatbuilding Team had an amazing time at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival 2024, sharing their stories and skills and having a great time. We were blown away with the whole festival and place - will write a longer highlights blog post when I've recovered from jet lag but just wanted to say THANK YOU PORT TOWNSEND! Team Included: Obi Oji - Blue Tree Boatbuilders - UK Sydney Fassam - Sunseeker International - UK Abbey Molyneux - Abbey Boatbuilder - UK Christine MAcPheat - Canada Gaia Brojanigo - Broja Woodworking - Italy Belinda Joslin - UK Heike Lowenstein - UK  |
