Looking to the future of yachting, YATCO interviews several fresh faces in the industry to discover how they got their start, their career highlights so far, and what they predict for the future of the yacht market.
Tim Fletcher is the founder of Workrest, a company that is driving innovation in crew management and providing the maritime industry with a smarter, safer way to manage crew, from work/rest compliance to leave schedules and contracts (above: group picture with Tim Fletcher in the middle).
Featuring Tim Fletcher, Founder of Workrest
How did you start in yachting?
A one-way ticket to Nice, £500 in my bank account, and a bed booked at a crew house in Antibes. I dockwalked religiously in Cannes and Monaco looking for my first opportunity. I wanted to stand out, so I created what I believe was one of the first video CVs in the industry and the captain liked it!
I wanted to stand out, so I created what I believe was one of the first video CVs in the industry and the captain liked it!
As a younger professional in the industry, what trends have you seen, and what do you predict for the coming years?
It is obvious that on board processes will be either completely or primarily carried out digitally. As younger blood rises through the ranks of the industry, the change will accelerate in how things are done on board. The mentality of, ‘This is how I did it for years, so this is how we’ll continue to do it,’ slowly ebbs away as those mindsets retire.
What kinds of challenges have you faced in yachting, and how have you overcome them?
As a business founder, getting information about your product or service in front of the decision-maker at the right time can be difficult and this is the key to growth. I would say I overcome challenges by having relentless persistence and determination, which are key in this game.
I overcome challenges by having relentless persistence and determination, which are key in this game.
What are some of your most memorable and successful moments?
Our goal was to simplify crew management and be on board a sizable portion of the most prestigious yachts in the industry, which we have achieved. One of our most memorable moments? We won a competition hosted by Thetius (in partnership with Shell and Inmarsat) to run a pilot program on one of Shell’s vessels to test our fatigue-predicting algorithm, which was truly a fantastic opportunity!
What advice would you give to someone looking to join the yacht world?
Immerse yourself in the information that is available, build up a wealth of knowledge, and then just keep attacking. I have not met anyone that ‘failed’ in the industry, because everyone that ‘makes it’ focused on the solution rather than the problem – they did not give in. The harder you work the luckier you get.
I have not met anyone that ‘failed’ in the industry, because everyone that ‘makes it’ focused on the solution rather than the problem – they did not give in. The harder you work the luckier you get.
What do you aspire to for the future?
To continue to make lives safer for people that work at sea.
