A COMPANY providing courses for seafarers and shore-based companies has opened in Hampshire.

Nuwave Training has launched its offices at Fareham Innovation centre.

The centre was opened three months ago and is now home to 11 firms offering workshops and business training from Daedalus airfield at Solent Enterprise Zone in Lee-on-the-Solent.

Nuwave is part of the Guernsey-based Bachmann Group which offers offshore employment services, payroll administration, personnel management services and corporate ownership to the marine and offshore industry.

Nuwave Training will be working across the south providing shore-based courses in offices and colleges which include first aid, fire courses, disability, stress and anger management courses.

Staff leading these courses specialise in training for deck, engine and catering seafarers working on a variety of vessels like cargo ships, oil tankers, ferries, dredgers and work boats.

General manager Karen Harvey-Miller, she said: “Increasing compliance and regulation in the marine industry is generating strong demand for our services and Fareham Innovation Centre is already proving a draw for expanding businesses like us."

“Having two offices and a workshop, where we can run training courses is of benefit, with the flexibility to upscale on site.

“With meeting rooms and kitchen facilities as well, plus parking, we are well provided for.”

The centre is also opposite CEMAST, the Centre of Excellence in Engineering & Manufacturing Advanced Skills Training, who will be working with Nuwave to offer more courses.

Stephen Brownlie, senior centre manager, said: “Occupancy, with the arrival of Nuwave and other firms, is already at 36 per cent within just 12 weeks of launch.

“The number of enquiries continue to flood in, including from businesses with links to the marine, automotive, aerospace and aviation sectors, including through CEMAST. We’re proud to be supporting local employment and economic growth.”

Other firms to move in include carbon bikes specialist LIOS, Psion, which provides technical support for the Ministry of Defence, software developer Xehkode and Britten-Norman, a British aircraft manufacturer and aviation services provider.

The centre is based in the South’s first Enterprise Zone and is worth £5.3m zone.

It is set to create 3,500 jobs by 2026 and bosses hope it will become a “regional powerhouse” for marine, automotive, aerospace and aviation industries.