IBTC Lowestoft

20/12/2024

IBTC Lowestoft closed today. Those of you who have had to close a business will know that the overriding emotion is one of failure.
We would therefore like to thank everyone for your supportive messages – they mean a very great deal.

Thank you to all our instructors and staff. You will notice most of us are not spring chickens! This is all part of the IBTC ethos; you need to be experienced and have to have worked in the industry to teach. We are spoilt with a staff who ooze experience in boatbuilding and joinery.

The instructors’ passion and loyalty is humbling. Rob, Alan & PJ have even been instructing this morning ensuring the remaining students get the maximum they can from their courses.

It has been pointed out to us that our unique training structure has offered the most comprehensive training by some of the most experience people in the sector which in turn produces high quality trades people to our industry and beyond. This should never be viewed as failure… as a student once said to us ‘I didn’t come to IBTC just to learn how to build a boat - I came to learn to be a boatbuilder’!

We can be immensely proud to always have done right by the students if not our bank balance!

Thank you again to our amazing instructors and staff – you deserve more recognition and reward than a single social media post!

Thank you.

16/12/2024

IBTC to Close
It is with immense sorrow that we announce the closure of the International Boatbuilding Training College Lowestoft (IBTC).
Following 50 years of training people in the craft of traditional boatbuilding and joinery we will close the doors for a final time on Friday 20th December 2024.
This difficult decision comes after a series of negative economic events alongside a continued shift in perception of what constitutes quality training in the UK. These events include Brexit, COVID and the Ukraine war. All have had an impact on material costs and general overheads; this, linked with falling student numbers leave the college economically unviable.
IBTC has long been recognised as the UK’s premier boatbuilding college offering the most comprehensive syllabus in traditional boatbuilding available. This has been achieved through operating a ‘true to life’ boatyard with a range of 20 plus boat projects for students to train on. These projects range from building new 9ft dinghies through to building a new Folk Boat and restoration of yachts up to 40ft. A unique training environment where the syllabus is expertly delivered by time served boatbuilders and joiners with an amassed experience of over 150 years.
These factors are so important in delivering quality training because learning traditional boatbuilding and joinery is about applying a good deal of skill to a wide range of technical processes, processes that rely on a person understanding a whole range of varied subjects – how trees grows and how this affects grain and therefore the use of the wood, how to cut the perfect dovetail or craft the seamless plank scarf right through to applying the last coat of varnish.
This broad approach of understanding as much of a subject as possible, even if it is not part of an official syllabus, results in the development of the highest quality crafts people possible. We call this approach to training ‘teaching in the round’ a process that cannot be shortcut.
Unfortunately, we live in an economy that demands shortcuts, that demands cost savings at the expense of quality.
We, as a nation, are accepting mediocrity and more worryingly we are mistaking this mediocrity for quality. The national loss of skills and high-quality skills training in the artisan sector are deeply concerning.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing students and publicly pay tribute to a group of brilliant instructors and staff whose experience, knowledge, expertise and patience have changed so many lives for the better.

Thank you,
Lyn & Mike

27/11/2024

📢 Important Announcement 📢

Unfortunately, we've had to make the difficult decision to cancel this Saturday's Open Day.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and invite you to join us for our next Open Day in the new year (TBC). Stay tuned for updates, and thank you for your understanding.

26/11/2024

Do you know your beam from your bilge? 🛥️

Book your place and join us on Monday 16 December for our Boat Terminology short course and build your nautical knowledge!

👉 www.ibtc.co.uk/short-course/boat_terminology/2024-12-16/

22/11/2024

Our next Open Day is just around the bend! ⛵️

Whether you're exploring course options or simply curious about what we do, book your time slot and join us next Saturday 30th November.

👉 www.ibtc.co.uk/short-course/open-days/2024-11-30/

21/11/2024

Want to know more about the beautiful stretch of coast where we're based? 🌊

Check out this video by The Suffolk Coast, highlighting the best bits of Lowestoft & Oulton Broad, including IBTC Lowestoft!

www.ibtc.co.uk

19/11/2024

Our Open Day is happening on Saturday 30 November. 📅

If you can’t make it but still want to explore if IBTC Lowestoft is the right fit for you, don’t worry—you can book a visit on a date that works for you via our website! 👉 www.ibtc.co.uk/college-visit-booking/

Please fill in the form below. Thursday mornings are preferable for the college but we can accomodate most days. We will contact you as soon as possible on receipt of the form and confirm. Visit request booking form First Name* Last Name* Mobile* Email* Requested Visit Date*

14/11/2024

Discover the boatbuilder inside of you with IBTC Lowestoft. 🛠⛵️

www.ibtc.co.uk

13/11/2024

We’re excited to be exhibiting at the North of England Woodworking Show this weekend! 🪵🪚

Come and join us for what promises to be a fantastic event! Get your tickets at https://harrogatewoodworkingshow.co.uk/buy-tickets

12/11/2024

Precision is key! 🎯 It's all about controlling the angle...

Master the art of subtle adjustments with us here at IBTC Lowestoft. 🪚

🌐 www.ibtc.co.uk

11/11/2024

We're blessed to be situated in one of the most beautiful areas in the country, on the edge of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and just a few miles from the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape—no better place to learn boatbuilding! ⛵️

Learn more about the college and the surrounding area 👉 www.ibtc.co.uk/the-college-and-surrounding-area/

The college is situated in one of the most beautiful areas in the country on the edge of the Norfolk Broads National Park and just a few miles from the Suffolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

08/11/2024

Applying the finishing touches to the week and smoothing our way into the weekend...

www.ibtc.co.uk