Meet the Team: Steve
Steve has been part of the Clipper Marine team for 17 years and is one of the first people many customers speak to when buying, selling or maintaining their boat.
His day starts simply enough. "A good cup of tea" says Steve.
Once the tea is finished, the working day begins with a meeting to review the service schedule and make sure everyone knows where they need to be. After that, Steve heads out around the marina before settling into a mixture of customer enquiries, brokerage viewings, follow-up calls and emails.
One area many customers know Steve for is spare parts. Alongside is brokerage responsibilities, he helps owners source parts for Bavaria, Regal, Greenline and Bali boats, often tracking down components that can be difficult to find.
After all the years in the industry, he's seen the business from every angle.
"There have been some great moments helping clients find the right boat, but there are also plenty of less glamorous days. I've spend hours searching for hard-to-find parts, dealt with every kind of weather the British coastline can throw at you, and travelled to boat shows across Europe."
The variety is one of the things that has kept him interested throughout his time with Clipper Marine. One day might involve a sea trial with prospective buyers, while the next could be spent helping an owner source a replacement part or preparing for an upcoming boat show.
When asked what he enjoys most about the job, helping clients get out on the water is high on the list.
"Whether it's someone's first boat or they're moving on to their next one, it's always satisfying when everything comes together and they can start enjoying it".
For anyone thinking about a career in the marine industry, Steve's advice is straightforward.
"Be proactive. Send your CV, make phone calls and put yourself forward. The marine industry is quite small, so people remember those who show initiative".
He also believes that spending time around boats is one of the best ways to learn.
"The more experience you can get, the better, but you don't need to know everything on day one. If you're willing to learn and get involved, you'll pick things up quickly."
Seventeen years on, Steve remains a familiar face around the marina and a key part of the Clipper Marine team, helping customers with everything from finding their next boat to sourcing the parts needed to keep them on the water.
