Table of Contents
Strategic Overview
Marine Industry Youth Inclusion Strategy
Based on findings from the ICOMIA Congress Diversity Workshop with James Ward (Marine Resources)
This strategy outlines some of the essential steps needed to attract, welcome, and retain young talent in the marine industry, providing actionable roadmaps for businesses, associations, and global stakeholders.
The Challenge
Barriers to Attracting Young Talent
We recognised four main hurdles that discourage young people from choosing marine careers:
Low Visibility
Young people are not represented in industry marketing, imagery, or key leadership voices, making the sector feel inaccessible.
Lack of Awareness
There is a fundamental lack of understanding that the marine industry offers a viable, exciting career path to explore.
Slow Pace
The industry is often perceived as having slow organisational structures and offering limited or slow career advancement opportunities.
Environmental Concerns
The sector is sometimes perceived as not being environmentally friendly or sustainable. Demonstrating purpose is vital.
Strategic Action Framework
12-Month Commitment Plan
The strategy focuses on four pillars to drive youth inclusion and change this perception across global marine organizations:
Empowerment
(Give a Seat at the Table)
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Action: Actively bring young professionals on to industry committees, working groups, and boards to ensure their perspectives shape decision-making.
Outreach & Awareness
(Interpret the industry for newcomers & spread the word)
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Action: Launch national and global campaigns to raise the industry’s profile.
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Action: Form a Global Young Professionals/Young Leaders Network to create peer-to-peer engagement and mentorship.
Opportunity
(Widen the Net)
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Action: Offer accessible entry points for lower-level roles.
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Action: Aim to significantly increase and extend the pool of companies offering formal apprenticeships.
Authentic Communications
(Engage a younger demographic to help with messaging)
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Action: Hand over social media accounts (such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, etc.) directly to young people to create content. This ensures communications are genuine, relevant, and engaging.
Implementation
Proposed Tasks
Direct operational tasks identified to foster youth engagement and organizational progress:
Committee Alignment
CompletedCombining the ICOMIA and IFBSO diversity committees – completed.
Institutional Buy-In
Leadership must demonstrate that we are truly committed to these changes—not just talking about them, but walking the walk.
Branding & Consistency
Create a clear, overarching communications mission to ensure brand recognition and consistency across all media (graphics, hashtags, key messages, imagery, etc.).
Youth-Led Interpretation
Establish a dedicated space where young people can share their experiences and requirements, enabling them to interpret the industry for their peers.
Targeted Outreach
Partner with young people to connect directly with schools, colleges, and clubs to convey a clear invitation to learn more about the sector.
Celebrate Success
Consistently share best practices and success stories, and hold in-person events where consistent messaging is reinforced.
Learn from Others
Identify entities that have successfully implemented youth inclusion strategies and seek their advice.
ICOMIA Knowledge & Guidance
Ready to Explore More Industry Resources?
Discover guidance documents, reports, market statistics, and working group insights across all marine sectors.