The closure, effective from 20 December, has led to the redundancy of 11 staff members, with the company’s assets slated for sale in the coming year. The decision to liquidate the college has sent ripples through the maritime community, raising concerns about the preservation of traditional boatbuilding skills.
Gerry Skews, a trustee of the Excelsior Trust—a charity dedicated to providing sailing experiences for youth and disadvantaged individuals—emphasised the college’s pivotal role in maintaining maritime heritage. “For over 30 years, the Excelsior Trust has worked closely with the college. They’ve helped us to preserve Excelsior’s heritage, ensuring she continues to sail and inspire young people. Their craftsmanship has been integral to our success,” Skews remarked. He further expressed apprehension about the future preservation of historic vessels, questioning, “Who will preserve the skills and knowledge needed to care for historic vessels like ours?”
The IBTC offered a comprehensive range of courses, from traditional boatbuilding to specialised joinery, along with shorter programmes exploring additional woodworking skills and maritime crafts. Its graduates have been instrumental in sustaining the craftsmanship essential to the maritime sector, finding placements in boatyards across the globe.
In September 2023, the college’s commitment to excellence was recognised when it received the Maritime Training and Education Programme Award at the National Maritime Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Awards. This accolade underscored the institution’s role in fostering maritime skills and education.
The directors, Lyn and Mike Tupper, who have managed the college for the past nine years after acquiring it for a nominal sum, cited a challenging market with diminished demand for wooden boatbuilding as a significant factor in the decision to close. Despite substantial personal investment and efforts to secure support from businesses benefiting from the college’s unique skills, a viable rescue plan failed to materialise. The Tuppers, now the largest creditors, expressed a profound sense of loss, stating, “Those of you who have had to close a business will know that the overriding emotion is one of failure. We can be immensely proud to always have done right by the students if not our bank balance!”
In the wake of the closure, the current student cohort was afforded the opportunity to complete at least the joinery module of the City & Guilds qualification, ensuring they depart with a formal acknowledgment of their skills.
The liquidation of the IBTC marks a significant moment in the maritime community, prompting reflection on the importance of preserving traditional skills in an evolving industry. As the last remaining small boatbuilding and ship joinery facility in the region, its absence leaves a void that will be challenging to fill.
The broader implications for maritime heritage are profound. The closure not only affects those directly involved with the college but also poses a threat to the continuity of traditional boatbuilding techniques. Without institutions like the IBTC, the transmission of these specialised skills to future generations is in jeopardy, potentially leading to the erosion of a rich cultural heritage.
The situation calls for a concerted effort from the maritime community, heritage organisations, and policymakers to find alternative avenues for preserving and promoting traditional boatbuilding skills. Whether through the establishment of new training centres, apprenticeships, or heritage projects, it is imperative to ensure that the knowledge and craftsmanship honed over centuries are not lost to time.
