Interior crew can now benefit from a clearly defined training route, leading to an industry recognised Certificate of Competence, issued by the PYA.
Guidelines for Unified Excellence in Service Training (GUEST) has been developed by the Professional Yachting Association, in association with the yachting industry. For professional interior crew pursuing a career, the GUEST structure provides a balance of work experience onboard with formal training, achieving qualifications from Introductory level and Operational level, leading onto Management level.
GUEST courses are modular in structure, with varying requirements at each level:
Introduction level – Yacht Junior Steward/ess CoC
Seatime Requirement: nil
Training Requirements:
PYA Yacht Interior Introduction Course. 3 days – Course Fee £465.00*
PYA Yacht Interior Basic Food Service Course. 1 day – Course Fee £155.00.*
PYA Wine & Cocktail Introduction Course. 1 day – Course Fee £155.00*
* These 3 courses can be done over a 5 day period – course fee £775.00.
Level 2 Award in Food Safety or Food Hygiene in Catering (this course can be done online)
STCW Basic Safety Courses click here for details
ENG1 medical or equivalent
Operational level – Yacht Senior Steward/ess CoC
Seatime Requirement: 12 months yacht service + 60 days guest service.
Training Requirements:
Training Record Book
MCA Yacht Rating Certificate (optional)
PYA Yacht Interior Intermediate Housekeeping Course
PYA Yacht Interior Intermediate Service Course
PYA Wine Intermediate Course or equivalent (WSET level 1, International Wine Guild level 1, EIS level 1 etc)
PYA Cocktail & Spirit Intermediate Course
PYA Barista & Hot Beverage Course
RYA Powerboat Level 2 or RYA Tender Driver License or equivalent
Advanced level – Yacht Chief Steward/ess CoC
Seatime Requirement: 12 months yacht service + 60 days guest service whilst holding senior Steward/ess position.
Training Requirements:
Training Record Book
PYA Yacht Interior Advanced Housekeeping Course
PYA Yacht Interior Advanced Service Course
PYA Wine Advanced Course or equivalent (WSET level 2, International Wine Guild level 2, EIS level 2 etc)
PYA Cocktail & Spirit Advanced Course
Level 3 Award in Supervising Food Safety in Catering
Advanced Sea Survival or STCW CPSC & RB
STCW Medical Care Aboard Ship
STCW Advanced Fire Fighting
Head of Department >500gt- Yacht Chief Steward/ess >500gt CoC
Seatime Requirement: as above, with half of the service being on vessels >500gt.
Training Requirements:
PYA Yacht Interior Management Course
STCW HELM Operational Course or equivalent (HELM Management course is also recommended, but not required, for this CoC)
Introduction to International Safety Management Course or equivalent
Accounting & Budget Course
PYA GUEST provides experienced interior crew with the opportunity to apply for direct entry to a CoC though transitional arrangements, until January 2017. This will be judged on a case-by-case basis, for those crew who already have experience and training.
For more information on the PYA GUEST system, please see the PYA website