Young people in Southampton will soon have new opportunities to explore careers in the city’s world-leading maritime and marine industries through the launch of the Southampton Opportunities Passport.
The initiative, which I’m developing in partnership with Maritime Solent, brings together schools, colleges, universities, maritime businesses and civic partners to create a structured programme that connects classroom learning with real careers across Southampton’s economy.
The Southampton Opportunities Passport will begin with a Maritime & Marine pilot, reflecting the city’s historic and ongoing role as one of the UK’s most important maritime hubs.
Partners from across education, industry and civic institutions have already come together for a founding meeting and a follow-up operational session held at Solent University during National Careers Week, where the first stage of the pilot programme was discussed and developed.
The pilot will involve a group of Southampton schools working together with employers and education partners. Participating secondary schools include Bitterne Park School, Woodlands Community College, Oasis Academy Sholing and Oasis Academy Mayfield, alongside Hightown Primary School, which will take part in a primary programme.
The pilot will focus on Year 9 pupils, who will take part in a dedicated Maritime & Marine Month where each week explores a different pillar of the sector. Through curriculum-linked activities, employer talks and workplace visits, students will discover how subjects such as maths, science, computing, geography and English link directly to real jobs in the maritime economy.
Participating students will record their learning in a Passport, helping them reflect on their interests and the skills they use. Pupils will also have opportunities to explore specific areas of the sector further through visits, projects and industry events.
Those who complete a pillar of the programme will be recognised at the end of the school year through a Southampton Opportunities Passport celebration event.
Alongside secondary school activity, the programme will also explore awareness activities in primary schools, helping younger pupils understand the range of careers connected to the city’s maritime industries.
The programme is being developed in partnership with Maritime Solent, schools, employers and education providers across the region, with partners working together to develop curriculum materials, employer engagement opportunities and a shared calendar of visits and events to support delivery in schools.
Why this matters
Southampton is one of the great maritime cities of the world, but too many young people grow up without realising the extraordinary careers available on their doorstep
This programme will help pupils see how what they learn in the classroom links to real careers in sectors such as engineering, marine science, logistics, digital technology and the cruise industry.
I’m grateful to the many partners across Southampton who have already come together to support this initiative, and I’m excited to see the pilot begin to take shape.
What next?
The pilot programme will now move into the next stage of development, working with schools and partners to prepare the first delivery phase starting from June this year at Seawork 2026.
The Southampton Opportunities Passport aims to create a long-term, citywide programme that connects education with the industries shaping Southampton’s future.
