Women outnumber men on the Boat Building Academy (BBA)’s flagship 40-week course for the first time in its 28-year history.

The newest student cohort at the academy in Lyme Regis comprises eight women and seven men.

The most women enrolled previously was four – and for two years there were no female students at all.

Diversity in boat building has long been a concern, and the rise in female applicants at the BBA is the result of a new diversity and inclusivity mission – launched just over a year ago by the BBA and Belinda Joslin, founder of Women in Boatbuilding (WIBB).

The strategy puts diversity at the heart of the academy’s priorities from the top down and includes practical and financial support.

A five-day women’s workshop course now runs annually for women to try their hand at woodworking before committing to further study.

Meanwhile, a new bursary scheme exclusively for women is making it possible for a growing number of women to meet the cost of the course and access the high-level training and career development opportunities it provides.

In addition, WIBB members already working in the industry are also actively mentoring female BBA students.

Student Sophia Harding from Portsmouth is just 17.

Determined to enter a ‘practical’ career, she dropped out of sixth form, taught herself to sail and bought an old boat, which she single-handedly restored last winter.

The BBA’s new women’s bursary has now enabled her to join the 40-week course.

“I enrolled on the one-week workshop out of curiosity,” she said.

“I enjoyed it, but had to see how feasible it would be to get a place on the 40-week course, which would require funding the course privately and moving away from home.

“The interview with the BBA involved them ascertaining my commitment, and the game changer was when they announced that I had won a 50 per cent bursary.

“During the summer I worked for Urban Truant, a charter boat company, where I saved every penny towards the outstanding fees.

“They also sponsored a portion of the fees, and in addition, I gained sponsorship from the William Price Trust.

“The hard work paid off and I’m absolutely loving it. It’s incredibly challenging as you would expect.

“It’s inspiring to be part of a group of men and women of all ages, from all over the world and with varying capabilities, who are each equally passionate about learning to build beautiful wooden boats.”

Student Hannah Lovett, 38, from Calderdale in West Yorkshire, has come to the BBA after leaving her career as a restauranteur.

“I knew that working with my hands was the only way I wanted to work, and I was initially thinking joinery,” she said.

“But one day, a friend who works with boats sent me a link to Women in Boat Building which I found completely inspiring.

“A couple of weeks later, I woke up at 3am, sat bolt upright in bed and knew that’s what I should do.

“I’m so happy to be on the first course to be predominantly women. I love that the academy is making a conscious effort to balance gender diversity.”

The cohort started the course ‘upstairs’ at the BBA, learning the skills which eventually enables them to move ‘downstairs’ and begin the long and challenging process of building four wooden boats from scratch.

These boats will be launched, in line with tradition, into Lyme Regis harbour next June.

Belinda of Women in Boatbuilding added: “The BBA is an amazingly inclusive and welcoming environment for women, so we’re delighted to have helped more women to feel that it’s a space they belong in and are welcome in.

“This success story is proof that the DEI strategy worked, and we hope the wider industry will learn from the measures that BBA have taken and put more of a priority on DEI to tackle the skills shortage in boatbuilding nationwide.”

BBA director Will Reed agreed: “It’s deeply encouraging to see so many talented women on the course.

“We have an exciting strategy in place to further promote diversity and inclusion in the industry and look forward to seeing these and many more young women go on to exciting careers in boat building.”

• boatbuildingacademy.com