Ask the Expert
In each edition of ONBOARD Magazine, we talk to four experts in their fields about common issues on board superyachts and how their products and services can deliver the required solutions.
As a business, are you seeing a general skills shortage in recruitment and how do you improve employee retention?
Honestly, we haven’t really struggled with a skills shortage at Awake. We’ve been lucky to attract people who are genuinely passionate about what we do, that mix of innovation and performance seems to draw the right kind of talent.
That said, keeping great people is always the real challenge. For us, retention is about trust, belonging and sense of purpose. When people feel part of something real, not just a job title, they stay and they give their best. That’s where we put our energy.
As a business, are you seeing a general skills shortage in recruitment and how do you improve employee retention?
For several years now, we have observed, beyond mere skills, a real lack of engagement in work. In people’s minds, work is no longer a pleasure but a chore. Integrity towards one’s company is no longer the norm. This means having to hire employees lacking technical expertise. Obviously, this affects the company’s image with its clients.
Team spirit is essential for the smooth operation of a company. To this end, we give our employees as much freedom as possible. We avoid any unnecessary pressure. We strive to improve working conditions by investing in suitable premises and high-performance tools. Whenever possible, we respond favourably to the personal requests of our employees. To attract talented individuals, we have implemented benefits such as meal vouchers, performance bonuses, and the possibility of overtime to increase earnings. We organize team-building activities to improve cohesion within YAS Protec.”
As a business, are you seeing a general skills shortage in recruitment and how do you improve employee retention?
Like many companies in the high-end interior sector, we operate in a highly competitive labour market, particularly when it comes to specialised trades and project management for complex superyacht and residential fit-outs. The level of craftsmanship required for our projects is exceptionally high, and success in this environment relies on a healthy balance of experienced professionals, industry specialists, and emerging young talent.
To maintain our standards, we invest significantly in developing skills internally through structured apprenticeships, continuous training programmes, and close collaboration with our subsidiaries in Germany. This approach allows knowledge and craftsmanship to be passed on while continuously integrating new technical expertise. Employee retention is further supported by flexible working-time models and a comprehensive benefits package. In addition, we place strong emphasis on continuous learning: employees have access to individual training and development opportunities to deepen their expertise in areas such as woodworking, CAD engineering, project management, and surface finishing. Together, these measures enable us to build and retain a dedicated workforce capable of delivering the bespoke quality List GC is known for.
As a business, are you seeing a general skills shortage in recruitment and how do you improve employee retention?
At Peters & May, we recognise that specialist yacht logistics is a highly skilled discipline, and like many sectors, we see increasing competition for experienced talent. The complexity of our operations, from racing yacht campaigns to superyacht and project cargo transport, demands deep technical knowledge, problem-solving ability and absolute attention to detail.
Rather than viewing this as a challenge alone, we see it as an opportunity to invest in our people. Peters & May has built a strong culture around long-term career development, training and internal progression, which has resulted in consistent and longstanding employee retention across the business. We understand that retaining expertise is critical to delivering the reliability our customers expect. By taking a people-centric approach, supporting our teams, recognising their specialist skills and giving them opportunities to grow, we not only attract talent but ensure it stays within the business, strengthening our service offering and long-term resilience.
As a business, are you seeing a general skills shortage in recruitment and how do you improve employee retention?
As a designer and manufacturer of premium anchoring solutions for discerning superyacht clients around the world, it is essential for us to maintain exceptional quality and craftmanship. To achieve this consistency, we place a heavy focus on valuing people and their ideas.
We remain a family-owned Tasmanian business, six decades after it was founded by John Robert Muir, and retain this supportive and fulfilling culture to this day. Muir’s ethos is especially important at a time of general skills shortages in manufacturing in Australia which are the symptom of years of neglect towards the industry in favour of offshoring. We overcome these wider recruitment challenges with a deep commitment to the retention of expertise and experience within our team. Beyond superficial benefits and pay, we drive job satisfaction through genuine recognition of good work and pride in our product and reputation. We also provide advancement and unique opportunities for new challenges and experiences – no matter what the role.
What’s been the biggest change in Owner/Guest requests for wine over the past 5 years?
The biggest change in the last five year is the demand for Tequila. Once associated mainly with shots and casual parties, it has now earned its place alongside champagne and fine wines on board superyachts.
Owners and guests are stocking high-end, designer tequilas that pair perfectly with the relaxed yet refined atmosphere of life at sea. Its versatility makes it a favorite for both elegant cocktails on deck and sipping neat at sunset. Sleek packaging and celebrity-backed labels add to its allure, making it a status symbol .Consumers are drawn to rare expressions like extra añejo and limited-edition releases, treating tequila with the same reverence once reserved for fine whiskey or cognac. With premium labels offering smooth, complex flavors, tequila embodies sophistication while still carrying a vibrant, celebratory spirit. In yachting circles, it has become more than just a drink.