Diary of a CEO (and Chairman!)

This month we have asked CEO’s in the sector for any advice they would give those starting out in the industry or those looking to advance their career.
To show that we walk-the-walk, as well as talk-the-talk, we asked Spinnaker owners and founders Phil Parry and Steve Cox some probing questions!

First up is company Chairman Steve Cox.

What was your first job?

Making pot scourers for a company called Spong. It was piece work in my mum’s name but the whole family got roped into doing it. My dad set up a production line in the garage to speed things up: I remember we had a pair of shears in his bench vice to cut the netting, and dustbins stacked with the various pieces we had to put together!

Describe your typical working day

There is no typical working day apart from a few standard meetings each week. I try to be in the office most days because I think it is very important to be visible and available to the staff, but I do come and go at non-standard times. When you are running a company you don’t actually “do” a lot – but it takes a lot of time to ensure that others are doing what needs to be done.

What were your expectations when you launched the business?

My business partner Phil Parry was very upset when I said I wanted to earn £40k a year (he was thinking £400k !!) but at the time we were doing an 80-hour week and yet earning less than our employees…
If I am honest, I was very confident that the business would be a success. I had faith in my own ability – and Phil’s strengths were my weaknesses, so we made a good team. We made slow and steady progress and improved year on year. We have only had three big bumps in the road. 200l, 2008 (global recession) and 2020 (covid), but each time it has not been as bad as feared. You do learn from experience and you do learn from your mistakes.

Why did you start Spinnaker?

Maritime recruitment was Phil’s idea but what really appealed to me was being able to grow something from scratch with infinite stimulation, variety and big challenges along the way – and the possibility of earning well from it. I think I am very self-motivated but I am not good at following rules, so “being your own boss” is the perfect role for me. I really like dealing with people as well and it is the people that really make a business, regardless of how good the idea is. I have learned so much from being in this role – and I still learn something every day – and that is what keeps me going.

The importance of mentoring

Mentoring in the workplace can be crucial for fostering professional growth, enhancing skills, and building strong organisational cultures. It offers employees guidance, support, and valuable insights from people working either in the same business in more senior positions, or sometimes externally.

Several of Spinnaker’s Maritime HR Association members have mentoring programmes in place, some of which were entered into the inaugural Best HR Initiative award at Spinnaker’s Maritime People and Culture Conference.

The winner of the award in 2024 was Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement which was recognised for its comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programmes.

As part of the programme, BSM developed a Female Mentorship programme designed to give female cadets more confidence in navigating the challenges of life onboard ships, which can include social isolation, performance pressure and gender bias in a traditionally male-dominated workplace.

 Irena Kyprianidou, Group HR ESG Officer, BSM said about the programme “The introduction of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programmes have been very well-received throughout the organisation and has had positive impacts on our employees” 

The programme connects women at sea with women ashore: it assigns a shore-based mentor from within the organisation to women cadets as they join their first vessel. The Mentorship programme aims to establish an additional support system and safe space, empowering new women recruits to maintain regular contact, receive guidance, and openly share their experiences.

Another member of Spinnaker’s Maritime HR Association BW Epic Kosan introduced the Caring Hands programme across 62 vessels. Launched in collaboration with WellAtSea, the Caring Hands programme is meticulously crafted with the well-being of every crew member in mind, aiming to foster healthy lifestyles on board. Its primary objective is to enhance physical, mental, and social well-being.

The programme boasts a diverse range of activities, including individual challenges, educational module, exercise regimens, group engagements, and opportunities for crew generated activities. Monthly activities, thoughtfully curated by the WellAtSea team, are facilitated by programme coordinators to guide, and support the vessels and completing these tasks. To ensure the programme’s success, Programme Ambassadors, nominated by captains, assume these pivotal roles in spearheading the wellness agenda and motivating their peers to participate actively.

Expanding beyond the fleet, the Caring Hands programme extends its reach to the workforce in Manila, recognizing the importance of promoting wellness in office settings. 

Another Spinnaker client Teekay, launched a formal mentoring programme many years ago, where the majority of the mentoring was completed within the same office. From this grew a Global Mentoring & Networking Programme in 2023, encouraging connection across the globe including offices in Mumbai, London, Houston, and Vancouver. The selection process was recalibrated in 2023 to encourage the employees themselves to take initiatives, tapping into their areas of interests. This includes, but not necessarily limited to, Commercial, Chartering, Ship Management, niche Ship-to-Ship Operations, Marine HR, Shore HR, IT, and Finance. Eventually, the interests would diverge to leadership, sharing of viewpoints, interpersonal relationships, and building connections.

It’s clear that mentoring encourages knowledge transfer, promotes innovation and problem-solving by pairing experienced individuals with those eager to learn and ultimately, workplace mentoring cultivates a collaborative environment, driving both personal and organisational success.