Report by George Smith

 

LUXURY yacht manufacturer Sunseeker has announced it will create 225 new jobs in a huge recruitment drive – bringing a much-needed economic boost to south Dorset.

Following a successful year, the company announced in December it would seek 100 new skilled employees to support the manufacture of its luxury yachts.

However, due to a boom in demand, the firm will now step up its recruitment plans by recruiting a total of 225 new people, with the posts split between its two manufacturing plants on Portland and in Poole.

It is not known how many posts in total will be created at Portland but the announcement shows a commitment to the island base at Osprey Quay, bosses said.

James Cox, site manager at Sunseeker’s Portland base, said the news was “fantastic” for the local area, especially Portland.

Mr Cox said: “For the company, I think it is tremendous.

“From where we were this time in 2014, laying off and making redundancies to where we are now. It is an opportunity for Sunseeker to re-employ a number of those they laid off.

“The new jobs are a fantastic sign of Sunseeker’s commitment to Portland.

“What’s really great is that the jobs are coming from a range of different skills.”

The Chinese-owned company, which made 300 managers and administrators redundant in 2014, said the boat builders are hoping to employ construction specialists such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians, but also engineers from different disciplines.

The Portland site has a close relationship with local school Isle of Portland Aldridge Community Academy (IPACA), from which it take a number of apprentices.

Mr Cox said: “We hope that a lot of these new jobs could come through the apprenticeships."

South Dorset MP Richard Drax also praised the news, saying that it provided a huge boost for the area.

Mr Drax said: “I’m absolutely delighted with this news from Sunseeker.

“It is a top quality company offering highly skilled jobs with good career prospects, which is exactly what we are looking for in Weymouth and Portland.”

Mayor of Portland Rod Wild also commented on the new jobs to be created in the area.

He said: “It is excellent news.

“It is good for the economy and we welcome investment of this kind.”

Sunseeker has reported its current forward orders to be 55 per cent higher than over the same period in 2015.

The company exhibited its new model, the Sunseeker 131, at the London Boat Show yesterday.

It did take a while for it to arrive at the event, as the 131ft (41m) super-yacht temporarily closed a runway at London City Airport as it passed through King George V Lock.