The age-old saying goes “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” but in reality, taking the next step in your career in your current organisation is more than just looking the part!

When you’re seeking a promotion, there are some key things you need to consider to help you make that leap effectively.

Assess your current situation.

Before making any moves, take a moment to evaluate where you are in your career. Consider your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Reflect on your current role: What do you enjoy? What challenges do you face? Understanding your position will help you identify what you want in your next step. Are you looking for more responsibility or greater challenges? Take time to think about what it is you really want. You can then present this to your line manager at your next appraisal or schedule in some one-to-one time where you can discuss in more detail.

Seek advice from those around you.

Ask your peers and managers what skills and knowledge you need to make that next move. What do you need to do to reach that next step?

Regular feedback can provide a clearer picture of your strengths and areas needing improvement. This can either be a formal approach from HR (360 review), or if you are feeling confident, you can ask for direct feedback.

Mentoring is also beneficial.  Is there anyone in the business who can guide you based on their experiences? A mentor can offer advice, share their network, and help you navigate challenges as you work toward your goals.

Expand Your Skills and Knowledge

Do you have any skills or gaps in your knowledge that prevent you from reaching your next career milestone?

Invest in your own professional development by learning new skills or enhance existing ones. This could involve taking courses, attending workshops, or obtaining certifications relevant to your field. Not all training programmes are in person and require time out of the office and financial investment. There are many free webinars available that can be carried out in your own time or lunch hour or speak to your manager about fitting these into your daily schedule.

Are there any relevant networking events you can attend? Networking with industry professionals can provide insights into the skills that are in demand, allowing you to tailor your learning.

Make sure you do your research and present any relevant training and events that you would like to attend to your manager alongside a cost benefit analysis.

Conclusion

Looking for your next role is exciting. By taking the time to self-assess, identify and learn new skills, and communicate your desire for that next role, you lay a strong foundation for success in your career journey.

Article written by Helen McCaughran , Marketing & Business Development Manager, Spinnaker

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When I look back at the best advice I’ve received in my career, one particular conversation stands out. Early in my journey of establishing Idwal, a mentor told me something that’s shaped not just my leadership style, but our entire company ethos: “In an industry as traditional as shipping, always build bridges, not walls.”

At first glance, it might sound like a cliché, but this advice proved invaluable as we worked to transform how the maritime industry approaches vessel inspections and data. The shipping industry has centuries of established practices, and when we started introducing technology-driven solutions, we faced our share of scepticism.

The temptation was there to position ourselves as disruptors, to emphasise how different we are from traditional inspection methods but that advice kept echoing in my mind – build bridges, not walls. Instead of positioning technology as a replacement for traditional maritime expertise, we focused on how it could enhance and support the deep knowledge that already existed in the industry.

This meant spending time with experienced surveyors, understanding their processes, and learning what made them excellent at their jobs. Rather than simply digitising paperwork, we worked to build tools that would make their expertise more powerful and their insights more accessible. The bridge we built wasn’t just between old and new – it was between people who shared a common goal of making shipping safer and more efficient.

This bridge-building approach has been crucial in helping us scale Idwal. By respecting and incorporating traditional maritime knowledge while introducing new technology, we’ve been able to create solutions that truly serve the industry’s needs. It’s helped us grow from a small team in Cardiff to a global operation that’s trusted by some of the biggest names in shipping.

The advice has also shaped how we handle internal changes. When we’re introducing new systems or processes, we focus on building bridges between different departments, between technical and non-technical team members, and between our development team and our users.

Looking back, I realise this advice wasn’t just about managing change or implementing technology, it was about understanding that progress doesn’t have to mean leaving behind what works; it’s about finding ways to connect different perspectives, experiences and expertise to create something better than either could achieve alone.

Today, as we continue to grow and evolve, this principle of building bridges remains at the heart of how we operate. Whether we’re developing new features for our platform, entering new markets, or hiring new team members, we always look for ways to connect rather than divide, to include rather than exclude.

In an increasingly polarised world, where it’s easy to champion the new at the expense of the established, this advice remains more relevant than ever. The future of maritime technology – and perhaps business in general – lies not in disrupting for disruption’s sake, but in finding ways to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.

Nick Owens, Idwal CEO

An experienced executive of over 20 years, Nick was appointed as Idwal CEO in 2020 and has led the rapid growth of Idwal through its digitalisation journey and management buy-out from former shareholders Graig Shipping PLC, establishing Idwal as a globally independent ship inspection and solution provider, with a reputation for sustainable and innovative services in an evolving marketplace. As a strong believer in the adoption of technology solutions and the power of data to deliver transformative results, Nick is now driving development of Idwal’s technology and data offering to further penetrate different maritime markets.