Boat Builder, Fleet Services

Metropolitan Police; Wapping; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension scheme

Annual leave entitlement

Marine training opportunities

Job summary

Metropolitan Police is seeking a skilled Boat Builder to join the Wapping Marine Workshop on the River Thames. You will maintain and repair police vessels, perform complex GRP repairs, and participate in fleet enhancement projects as part of a close-knit Fleet Services team.

You will work on a diverse range of high-profile operations, gain specialist marine training, and contribute to safety, quality checks and patrol readiness across national deployments.

Qualifications

• Marine experience is desirable and required.
• GRP laminating and repair qualifications are preferred.
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent and related Boat Building apprenticeship are expected.

Responsibilities

• Vessel maintenance and repairs to a marine fleet.
• Accurately follow warranty processes for manufacturer jobs.
• Inspect, diagnose and test vessels, using diagnostic equipment.
• Record measurements and compile technical reports after work.
• Support development and training, and mentor apprentices.
• Assist with reception testing of vessels on the River Thames.
• Ensure quality control and sign vessels off before deployment.
• Adhere to health & safety requirements and PPE guidelines.

Skills

Marine experience

GRP knowledge

Multiskilling

Engineering knowledge

Education

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Boat Building Apprenticeship

GRP laminating repairs

RYA qualifications

Tools

Marine tooling

Job description

Salary: The starting salary is £46,985, which includes allowances totalling £3,009.

The salary is broken down as £43,976 basic salary, which will increase annually until you reach the top of the scale £49,670. Plus, a location allowance of £2,009 and a non-pensionable allowance of £1,000.

Location: Wapping Marine Workshop

This is not your typical boat building role. Based on the River Thames at Wapping Marine Workshop, you will be part of a specialist team responsible for maintaining and repairing the vessels that support the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit. Every vessel you work on plays a critical role in protecting London’s waterways, supporting emergency response, public safety operations, search and rescue activity and national counter-terrorism deployments.

Working on one of the UK's most diverse operational fleets, you'll gain exposure to high-performance RHIBs, Targa patrol vessels, jet-powered craft and specialist marine assets. No two days are the same, with work ranging from complex GRP reconstruction and vessel modifications through to quality assurance inspections, sea trials and fleet enhancement projects.

We are looking for a skilled and motivated Boat Builder who takes pride in producing high-quality workmanship, enjoys solving problems and wants to be part of a close-knit team that delivers a vital policing capability.

Why Join Fleet Services?

• Work on a unique fleet of operational police vessels.
• Varied and interesting work with no two days the same.
• Support high-profile policing operations, major public events and national counter-terrorism deployments.
• Opportunities to undertake complex structural repairs, modifications and fleet development projects.
• Manufacturer and specialist marine training opportunities.
• Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement.
• Employment within a highly respected public service organisation.
• The opportunity to directly support frontline policing and national operations.

About Wapping Marine Workshop

Wapping Marine Workshop is the Metropolitan Police's dedicated marine maintenance facility. The workshop undertakes all aspects of vessel maintenance, structural repair, modification, inspection and fleet support for the Marine Policing Unit.

The team supports a range of high-profile operations throughout the year, including major public events, specialist policing operations and national counter-terrorism deployments. Alongside day-to-day maintenance, the workshop regularly undertakes major GRP repairs, hull surveys, vessel upgrades, fleet replacement projects, MCA and Police Boat Code compliance inspections.

The workshop is equipped with specialist lifting equipment, marine tooling and dedicated facilities to support the delivery of high-quality repairs.

Key Responsibilities

• Vessel maintenance - Maintain fleet within Fleet Services’ workshop by providing efficient scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and repairs on the vessels. Reduce maintenance costs and maximise fleet availability by ensuring work on the fleet is timely and necessary. Follow multiple manufacturers’ repair instructions, specific methods and techniques. Accurately determine the serviceability of all components, mechanical, electrical and hydraulic; using industry recognised tools and equipment.
• Warranty jobs - Accurately follow the ‘end to end’ process for each manufacturer’s warranty process.
• Inspection and diagnosis - Visually inspect and test vessels, interpreting feedback from the correct function. Diagnose electrical faults accurately, using high and low technology electrical test equipment to ensure they achieve minimum (or exceed) manufacturers’ standards. Maintain high technology test equipment to configure / reconfigure the appropriate system correctly.
• Data / Information - Accurately record obtained measurements and data on completed work, compiling technical reports where necessary. Read, interpret and analyse wiring diagrams, making use of interactive guides available from various manufacturers’ diagnostic equipment and web-based mediums.
• Development / training - Take responsibility for personal development and keep up to date with relevant standards and legislation.
• Support colleagues - Transfer knowledge and skills to apprentices / less technical staff.
• Reception Testing - Boat Builders are required to assist with the reception testing of vessels on the River Thames prior to the vessel being brought into the boat yard for routine servicing. This is done to establish whether there are any unreported defects with the vessel, which would be impossible to detect or check when the vessel is in the workshop. The Boat Builders main responsibility during the duration of the test is to inspect all underwater fittings and to ensure that they are not leaking through into the vessels hull. Once the Boat Builder is satisfied that he has identified any potential problem, other than basic servicing, he will then bring the vessel into the boat yard using our syncro hoist lift. (Boat Builders only)
• Quality Control – Boat Builders are responsible for the examination of work for quality control purposes. They are also responsible for testing out completed jobs ensuring that all reported defects have been repaired and quality standards achieved, maintaining customer satisfaction. To take responsibility for their own work and that of others, this will include testing defective or repaired vessels as deemed necessary by supervisors. Once the vessel is launched, stringent safety and quality checks are conducted afloat, before it is allowed to return to active service. This ensures that all the work is checked by the technician who then signs of the vessels logbook (Boat Builders only)
• Repairs - Boat Builders are responsible for undertaking large Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) repairs to vessels that have been involved in severe accidents or vessel damage caused by wear and tear. Often complex GRP moulds have to be manufactured prior to work commencing. Boat Builders are responsible for conducting hull surveys and making sure that every single component on the vessel is secure and is in good condition. It is their responsibility to determine when components have to be repaired or replaced. All police vessels have to be coded in accordance with Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) policies, as well as the Police Boat Codes 2 (PBC2). It is the Boat Builders responsibility to make sure all the equipment to be inspected is in good condition and everything is still within date. This includes life rafts, flare packs emergency position indicators etc. (Boat Builders only)
• Health & Safety focus – Take accountability for all personal equipment and work area. Ensure that accommodation is kept in appropriate condition. In the course of carrying out their duties the individual has a primary responsibility for both their own health and safety and the health and safety of others, and should implement and comply with all Health & Safety training requirements. At all times the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) required for any given task must be worn.

Additional Information

This role does not attract Shift Disturbance Allowance. If you are currently in a shift-working role, SDA should cease upon appointment to this job.

Experience

• Marine experience – Desirable background working in the marine industry and conversant with various models of vessels, associated propulsion systems, latest marine technology and innovations.
• Certifications– Boat Building based qualifications including NVQ Level 3 or equivalent. Boat Building Apprenticeship. Qualifications in Glass reinforced plastic (GRP) Laminating and repair. VariousRoyal Yachting Association (RYA) qualifications including Practical Motor Cruising Course Day Skipper (tidal), Shore based RYA/MCA Day Skipper for Sail and Power Craft, National Power Boat Level 2, Helmsman Motor Cruising Course, Sea training Centre Personal Survival Techniques, VHF Short Range Radio Certificate (Boat Builder only)
• Composites –Desirable skills in working with modern composite materials such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar, and advanced resin systems. This includes an understanding of lamination processes, vacuum infusion, resin transfer molding (RTM), and post-curing techniques.
• Engineering:Desirable skills or qualifications in marine engineering, or a strong understanding of the marine engineering sector, to enable effective multiskilling across the fleet.

Disability Confident Statement

The Met is committed to being an equitable (fair and impartial) and inclusive employer for disabled people, striving to have a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and long-term conditions, ethnic minority groups and women.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Met has committed to making disability equality part of our everyday practice. We ensure that people with disabilities and those with long term conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.

The Met is committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure disabled applicants can perform at their best. If youneed any reasonable adjustments or changes to the application and recruitment process, we ask that you include this information within your application form. All matters will be treated in strict confidence.

Please note, if you are applying for a police officer role or to become a police community support officer (PCSO) or designated detention officer (DDO), there is a minimum requirement that you must pass a job-related fitness test (JRFT) at point of entry. This does not apply to police staff roles. Find out more about police fitness standards.