Fred. Olsen and Cruise Liverpool join forces to inspire young students

Last Friday, 26 children from Christ Church Primary School in Birkenhead, Wirral in the UK were invited to spend the day at Cruise Liverpool, with a surprise VIP tour on Borealis to explore the range of opportunities and careers available on board.

Each pupil created their own CV and undertook a mock job interview at Cruise Liverpool before a tour of the ship, a light show and talks from the fleet entertainment technical manager, the executive chef and sous chef alongside members of Cruise Liverpool’s team.

Inspiring future generations 

‘As a business that places a huge amount of importance on supporting local communities, we are proud to have supported The Johnson Foundation’s My Big Future programme – a phenomenal way of helping to support and develop local communities,’ said Peter Deer, MD, Fred. Olsen Cruises Lines. 

He added, ‘We love embracing projects like these to inspire the next generation with the variety of career options available in the maritime and cruise industry. There are so many opportunities to grow, develop and lead fulfilling careers across the sector…’ 

Cruise Liverpool, which oversees Liverpool Cruise Terminal owned and operated by Liverpool City Council, local schools and voluntary organisations in helping to open the eyes of schoolchildren, as well as young adults with learning disabilities, to job opportunities in the cruise sector and a range of other industries. Cruise Liverpool’s head of cruise operations John Mawer remarked, ‘Cruise Liverpool facilitates over 115 cruise vessels each year, bringing over 220,000 guests into the heart of the city we love. Community is central to all that we do, we offer a sense of place, a home-from-home for our staff and visiting guests.’ 

Mawer continued, ‘We know there’s so much we can offer to young people who are maybe unsure about their future or who need that little bit of extra encouragement and belief, to think that a career in the cruise industry is within their reach. That’s why we’re engaging in our partnership programmes, to remove any perceived barriers to working in cruise and help young people to achieve their goals.’

‘An incredible industry’

The Johnson Foundation was established in 1987 to promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the Liverpool city region and has since raised more than £10m for charitable causes in the area.

Alex Mills, education coordinator at The Johnson Foundation, said, ‘...Some of the children in our visiting group come from particularly deprived/disadvantaged areas – some from families where two or three generations maybe haven't gone to work. The My Big Future programme as a whole, focuses on changing that particular mindset, encouraging every child to dream big from a young age and believe in their own potential. 

‘The visit has been an amazing catalyst for that, they've seen for themselves how much of an incredible industry the cruise and maritime sector really is and the endless opportunities it offers – whether they want to be a cruise ship captain, entertainer, chef, stevedore or port manager. It really has been a once in a lifetime opportunity for the children and one I know they'll never forget – career inspiration at its very best.’