IMCA launches IMCA Next Generation Network to support early career professionals and open new pathways to work in marine construction in International Shipping News 04/03/2026 The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has launched the IMCA Next Generation Network – a global, member-led network that will support the development of early career professionals. Designed to strengthen development pathways for junior workers in the marine construction sector, the new global community forms a central pillar of IMCA’s strategic focus on people, competency, and skills. It will also support the offshore industry to raise awareness of the growing range of career opportunities in marine construction. The IMCA Next Generation Network will provide a forum for early-career professionals to develop their careers, connect with peers and industry leaders, and shape the future of the marine contracting sector through innovation and collaboration, with activities structured around three core pillars: Inspire – raising awareness of offshore careers among students, educators, and early-career professionals. Connect – building a global peer community through events, digital forums, and engagement with IMCA committees. Develop – providing mentoring, technical insight sessions, and access to IMCA’s competence and training resources. Iain Grainger, IMCA Chief Executive, said: “Developing the next generation of offshore professionals is essential to the long-term resilience of our industry. The Next Generation Network reflects our commitment to supporting members with practical initiatives that strengthen skills, enhance capability, and create clearer pathways into offshore careers. We look forward to working with the global IMCA community to build a workforce that is ready for the opportunities and challenges ahead.” Lou Bendall, IMCA People Director, added: “Early career professionals are telling us very clearly what they need: guidance, visibility, skills, and connection. This network will be built around those needs and will be designed with our junior members, not for them.” Jamie Chestnutt, IMCA COO, and Marisa Achenk, Project Engineer, Subsea7 at IMCA Global Summit The initiative will be overseen by IMCA’s People Committee, chaired by Heerema Marine Contractors’ Tessa Hillebrants, and will form part of IMCA’s broader strategy to support its members to attract and nurture hundreds of thousands of skilled, diverse, and adaptable professionals over the next decade. Employment trends in the offshore energy sector, which is undergoing significant transformation as markets expand, digital systems mature, and operational demands increase, will require new technical skill sets, broader multidisciplinary capability, and strong leadership at all levels. Young professionals call for visibility, opportunity, and support The network’s launch follows a ‘next generation’ session at IMCA’s 2025 Global Summit, held in November in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, at which young professionals and students heard from a panel of apprentices, graduates, cadets, and trainee divers. Live polling at the event showed that the most common route into an offshore career was through industry outreach initiatives, cited by 47% of respondents. Around a third (31%) of the audience were primarily influenced by their family, while just 12% were led by careers advice at a school, college, or university, highlighting the need for clear, visible pathways into the sector and greater awaren