Why the Project Began

As Eyemouth Marine developed, one challenge became increasingly clear. There were very few people locally with the practical marine skills and experience needed by the yard, while there were also limited visible routes for young people interested in entering the industry.

The Viking Project grew from a wider ambition to help strengthen those local pathways. Bee provided an ideal focus. Her restoration offered a real working project through which young people could experience practical marine skills, traditional craftsmanship and the working environment of a boatyard, rather than learning about them only in a classroom.

Alongside this, Eyemouth Marine invested in a dedicated training and classroom facility within the yard, creating a base from which practical skills development and future training activity could grow.

From Pilot Project to Proven Programme

The first year of the Viking Project was designed as a practical test. The aim was to see whether restoration work on Bee could successfully engage young people while building stronger links between the yard, local schools and the wider community.

The response went well beyond that initial aim. Students responded particularly well to working on a real vessel, being part of a team and seeing tangible progress from the work they were doing.

The project also demonstrated benefits beyond technical skills. Participants developed confidence, teamwork, problem solving and employability skills, with the practical environment proving particularly valuable for young people who may not always thrive through conventional classroom-based learning.

Building on the First Year

The second year brought greater structure to the programme while retaining the practical approach that had made the pilot successful.

Students continued to work around practical marine activity while also taking part in enterprise and personal development learning at SCQF Level 4. The project began to move closer toward recognised learning pathways, giving participants the opportunity to develop skills that could support future education, training or employment.

This period also brought increasing interest from outside Eyemouth Marine, including support and engagement from schools, local businesses, community partners and organisations such as Historic Environment Scotland.

By the end of the second year, the Viking Project had developed from a small locally funded pilot into an established skills, employability and youth engagement initiative.

The Next Stage

The next phase of the project is focused on creating a more structured and sustainable programme with clearer progression routes for participants.

Discussions with local schools have explored bringing Viking Project activity more directly into the curriculum, allowing students to take part as part of their formal subject choices. The developing programme combines practical work on Bee with classroom learning and recognised qualifications.

Current progression routes include Personal Development and Enterprise qualifications at SCQF Level 4, Enterprise Skills at SCQF Level 5, and the potential for progression towards Maritime Skills National 5 qualifications in future years.

Interest from young people has already been strong, demonstrating the demand for practical learning opportunities connected to real industries and employment.

Looking Ahead

The longer-term aim is to build a repeatable local model for marine skills development that can continue to grow alongside the needs of young people, schools and the marine industry.

That means developing stronger links with education, expanding recognised qualification pathways, increasing involvement from local businesses and community partners, and securing the support needed to make the programme sustainable.

Eyemouth Marine will continue to provide workshop facilities, practical support, administration and project coordination while the Viking Project develops a broader network of partners around it.

At its heart, the project remains straightforward. It is about giving young people the chance to work on something real, develop useful skills and experience the marine industry first-hand, while helping ensure that practical knowledge and opportunities remain part of the future of Eyemouth and the surrounding area.