MAJOR Dorset employer Sunseeker has been praised by a government minister for its contribution to exports and jobs.

International trade minister Ranil Jayawardena visited the luxury boat maker, which has 1,700 staff in Poole and Portland.

He toured the Poole shipyard and met boat builders, apprentices and executives, including sales and marketing director Sean Robertson and finance director Dean Lawler.

Mr Jayawardena said: “It is fantastic to be down in Dorset to see Global Britain going around the world. The sheer number of yachts made in Britain for the export market is a sight to behold – Sunseeker export 95 per cent of their yachts – and this can be attributed to the substantial investment made in manufacturing here.

“Sunseeker’s commitment to generating new apprenticeship and graduate opportunities makes great business sense and is creating more jobs for local people, totalling over 1,700 staff today. Trade means jobs.

“And, as one of our largest leisure marine manufacturers, I’m delighted that nearly 70 per cent of all their materials are British, supporting a further 10,000 jobs in their supply chain.”

Sean Robertson, sales and marketing director at Sunseeker International, said: “We are delighted that the minister for international trade has been able to visit us to highlight the significance of our facilities in Poole and Portland and see first-hand the highly skilled nature of our talented design, engineering and manufacturing teams.

“Every year we commit to hiring at least 40 new apprentices, and increasingly, graduate roles. We develop our early careers programmes to ensure we equip our people with skills for now and the future.”

Sunseeker bosses recently said the business was “stronger than ever”, with an order book worth £400million despite a net loss of £23.7m in the year the pandemic hit.

During his tour, Mr Jayawardena learned about the company’s Centre of Excellence for design and technology, which “vertically integrates” each detail of the yacht from conception to completion.

The company says it has supported hundreds of apprentices with multiple learning options including carpentry, composites, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and IT. It says the vast majority of apprentices remain with the company.