International Superyacht Society Launches Talent Pledge

The International Superyacht Society announced that it launched the ISS Talent Pledge, a new initiative designed to tackle the skill gap in the yachting industry.

The International Superyacht Society (ISS) is introducing the ISS Talent Pledge to address the growing skills gap within the superyacht industry. The initiative encourages ISS members to share their knowledge, open doors, and provide opportunities for the next generation of the industry.

“Together, we have the power to address this critical challenge. By uniting our efforts, we can make a lasting impact on the future of our industry. We encourage all our members to take the first step today by signing our Talent Pledge,” stated ISS President Erin Ackor.

Representing the global yacht industry as a not-for-profit organization and dedicated to fostering excellence and innovation throughout yachting, the ISS is in a unique position to spearhead this new initiative.

“With the Talent Pledge, we aim to encourage superyacht companies around the globe to attract and retain new talent in our industry,” said Abi McGrath, chair of the ISS Talent Pledge.

Each company that signs the pledge agrees to support the development of young talent within its organization by implementing at least one of three actions. The first, collective action to cocreate talent, includes participating in existing programs such as Junior Achievement’s Sea the World, the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, or equivalent organizations. Speaking at local schools or universities about the superyacht sector and creating webinars promoting industry careers fall under this action as well.

The second action is creating quality job opportunities for new talent. Creating new job openings at all levels within the company and developing strategies that allow for less experienced but talented team members to learn from experienced professionals. The third action is work-based learning, which includes offering internships, building a continuous professional development program, inviting outside speakers to talk to your team, and allocating a budget to enable rising stars to attend conferences.

Finally, the career paths action asks companies to implement career paths to encourage longevity within the industry, start a mentoring program, and support crewmembers with transferable skill development so they can move ashore.

ISS members can sign up for the Talent Pledge at no cost and become a part of the initiative. To pledge your support, email [email protected] or visit ISS’s website here.