A scholarship is being offered for Bermudians interested in learning the art of boat building at the Landing School in Arundel, Maine.

The school, established in 1978, offers diplomas and associate’s degree programmes focusing on wooden boat building, composite boat building, marine systems and yacht design.

A statement from the Department of Workforce Development said full year funding available for the next three academic years, beginning this fall.

“The Scholarship programme has been funded for three years with the intent that it be dispersed to a different student each year,” the statement continued. “A one year recipient may apply for the grant for a second year if they intend to complete the associate degree programme which is two years.

“Ideally, the school would like to see three different students over the three years. This scholarship also covers tuition, books, tools, living expenses, and transportation.”

Training manager at the department, Pandora Glasford, said the scholarship funding was made available by the Island Foundation, who extended the Bermuda Scholarship Programme for three years.

She added: “The school is more than happy to call or Skype with potential candidates and their families to answer any questions they may have.”

A spokesman from the Landing School said the aim of the institution is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, saying that students are able to enter the marine industry workforce in as quickly as ten months.

“Students will attend classroom study each morning and in the afternoon apply what they’ve learnt in the lab, working as individuals and in teams to execute their newfound knowledge,” the spokesman said.

“Students at the school spend upwards of 40 hours per week learning their craft. They receive individual attention from instructors who are experts in their field and have a wide variety of knowledge to offer. This highly concentrated approach to learning and easy access to instructors ensures that students have the best possible chance to graduate with the greatest amount of knowledge.”

The school offers students the opportunity to spend time in all of the other programmes, organises field trips to regional boat building businesses and hosts lectures and marine industry gatherings to give students the opportunity to meet with professionals and potential employers in the marine service industry.