Supporting South Shields Marine School

Our Carnival UK cadet scheme supports people to take their first steps into a seafaring career. Working on board our ships while learning in colleges ashore, cadets have the opportunity to travel, gain top qualifications (we cover tuition fees) and get paid for it too!

Our partnership with maritime colleagues across the UK means we’re in a prime position to support those teaching as well as learning, ensuring maritime lecturers stay up-to-date with the latest on-board operations. Recently we supported James Tagg, Curriculum Manager, Marine Engineering, Tyne Coast College, to undertake some CIPD experience onboard Iona. Here’s his account of his time onboard.

“I had the unique opportunity to embark on a journey of discovery with Carnival UK. This was made possible through a collaboration with South Shields Marine School and Carnival UK, which allowed me to travel on P&O Cruises Iona. The experience was not only enlightening but also gave me a deeper understanding of the maritime industry’s efforts towards sustainability.

“The Iona is not just any ship; it’s powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and dual-fuel engines. The engineers shared their experiences and knowledge which has allowed me to bridge the gap between theory and practice. This new-found knowledge will allow for the development of courses ensuring that the curriculum remains relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.

“It was great to see some familiar faces—past students who had once sat in my classroom! It was fantastic to see how they had grown and developed as qualified engineers and the support they were providing to future seafarers through onboard training of cadets.

“A big thank you to Kristy, Manager, Carnival UK Maritime Early Careers & Professional Development; all the engineers onboard Iona and Carnival UK for making this collaboration possible. Their efforts have not only enriched my understanding but also allowed future learning and development opportunities.”