IBTC Portsmouth is a traditional wooden boatbuilding skills training provider with 100% employment rate to date. Based in the heart of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we offer our own Diploma, a Level 3 City and Guilds Qualification and a range of short courses, teaching techniques of traditional wooden boatbuilding and related transferable skills. Our graduates form the workforce needed to restore and conserve historic or traditional build boats and ships by learning from some of the most experienced and talented craftsmen and historic boats in Britain.

From day one students work on real boats and real projects. The highly transferable nature of the skills taught opens opportunities for future careers in, for example, green frame timber construction and furniture making. If you can build and fit out a classic wooden boat then you will have the joinery skills for a host of other applications. We pride ourselves on developing the individual, building their confidence and skills and allowing them to realise their potential.

We have 3 intakes a year and the majority of student time is based at Boathouse 4 which stands at the entrance to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. With its cathedral-like scale it is an iconic building and rare example of 1930s industrial military architecture on the South Coast, now home to our students who hone their shipwright skills in this awe inspiring building.

Book your place on one of our free of charge Open Days to come for a visit and find out more or download a course brochure.