CRAFTSMANSHIP
Boatbuilder Diaries: Brenden
From banker to boatbuilder: Canadian Brenden George joined Spirit Yachts at the end of 2025 after a career u-turn from working in finance to follow his passion for craftsmanship.
Originally from Toronto, Brenden moved to the UK to train at the Boat Building Academy (BBA) in Lyme Regis on the south coast of England. Less than a year later, he joined the team at Spirit and bought his own yacht to live aboard near to the yard.
Brenden comments: “I had been working in finance since graduating with a business degree and I had reached a breaking point with corporate life. I wanted to leave that world completely and go on an adventure, and I knew I wanted my new life to involve sailing in some capacity.”
Brenden continues, “I joined a sailing club in Canada, which fuelled that passion and I began to look at options to train as a boatbuilder. A Google search brought me to the BBA in Lyme Regis, Dorset. Although there were other options in Canada and the United States, I was impressed with the BBA’s curriculum and the beauty of England’s south coast.
“My research also led me to Spirit Yachts in Suffolk on the east coast and I contacted them to see if they would be open to employing a BBA graduate from abroad. They gave me a resounding ‘yes!’, so long as I had the legal right to work in England.”
Brenden put the wheels in motion and applied for a Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) to obtain a visa. The scheme was historically restricted to Commonwealth nationals, but is now an attractive option for young people aged 18-30 from 13 countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
After completing a 40-week boatbuilding course at the BBA, Brenden was hooked on his new life choice.
He says, “Woodworking projects were something I had only really done on occasion with my dad, who often took the lead. On the course, I was assigned to ‘Skylark,’ a fourteen-foot lug-rigged clinker dinghy. Launch day was incredible. It is an occasion which is watched by hundreds of people, including the town’s mayor, and is followed by a whole day and night of celebrations. Taking a boat you have helped to build into the water for the first time is a thrill.”
Will Reed, Director of the BBA said: “Brenden was an excellent student. He had high standards, enthusiasm, and the determination to do the best he could in every area. He tells a real success story – from Canada to a first-class education and into a fantastic job in one of the most prestigious boat building companies in the UK. I wish him every success and hope many more follow from across the globe using the YMS.”
After graduating, Brenden got back in touch with Spirit Yachts to take his first step into professional boatbuilding.
He continues, “Having graduated in good academic standing, I revisited past conversations with Spirit and was offered a week’s trial. It was nerve-wracking to arrive at such a renowned yard, known for its stunning modern-classic sail and power yachts. I hadn’t slept a wink the night before but was confident that the skills I had gained on the course would carry me through.
“During that week I was given the opportunity to ask questions, and the autonomy to tackle work thrown my way. I made it clear early on that if I received an offer, I would accept it on the spot, and that offer came by Thursday of my week-long trial.”
Brenden settled in quickly at Spirit and he adds, “Early on in my time at Spirit, I was invited on a company cruise down the nearby River Orwell, which ended with a beach barbecue. I knew then that I was where I was supposed to be and was grateful for the opportunity to work with such a close-knit team.
“I’m currently helping build the first Spirit P50 motor yacht, which has most recently involved installing subdecks and laminating glass and carbon reinforcement members throughout the vessel. It’s been an interesting compliment to the skills I’ve picked up at the BBA.”
Karen Underwood, Managing Director at Spirit Yachts comments, “The graduates from the BBA have always been valuable additions to our team and Brenden is no exception. His work ethic, friendly manner, and the skills he acquired during his training at the BBA have stood him in good stead and he is thriving on the build of our first P50 motor yacht.
“Whilst we have fantastic boatbuilders in the UK, the demand for trained, skilled woodworkers is high. The YMS scheme gives opportunities to talented people like Brenden and gives yards like ours the option to grow our team with the next generation of highly skilled craftsmen and women. I recommend anyone interested in boatbuilding or working with wood to explore their options – you never know what your next chapter may bring.”
Brenden finishes by saying, “Not long after joining Spirit I came across a little Hallberg-Rassy on the hard, for sale with the brokerage next door. She needs some work, but she’s mine, and I’m now living aboard while I prepare her for the water. My parents, who have been so supportive, think I’ve lost my mind. But I’m as happy as I’ve ever been.
“I intend to stay at Spirit for as long as my visa allows. Although it expires this summer, being Canadian, I have the option to extend it for an additional year.
“Looking back, so much seemed to just fall into place: from my visa, to the lovely couple who offered me a place to stay (in Dorset), and the work opportunities that sprung from my training with the BBA – things couldn’t have gone better.”
If you are a newly-qualified or experienced boatbuilder we would love to hear from you. Send your C.V to enquiries@spirityachts.com
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