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Shepherd Neame Teams Up With Pub Licensee To Support Whitstable Yacht



Independent family brewer Shepherd Neame has teamed up with the licensee of its Whitstable pub, The Old Neptune, to support a local yacht competing in an international race.


The Sailing Yacht Cormorant will take part in the 2026 Rolex Middle Sea Race, which starts in Malta on Saturday (October 17), becoming the first yacht from Whitstable to take part in the prestigious event.


Sponsored jointly by Shepherd Neame and The Old Neptune’s licensee Darren Wilton, the yacht will be sailed by Whitstable resident Patrick Maflin, Director and Founder of Marine Accounts, and members of his team. The Kent accountancy firm has spent the last 12 years working with crews, captains and marine professionals across the yachting industry.


Now in its 47th year, the race will start from Malta’s historic Grand Harbour, with the fleet setting off beneath the fortified walls of Valletta before racing out into the Mediterranean.


Affectionately known as ‘The Neppy’, The Old Neptune is one of the country’s most recognisable coastal pubs, thanks to its unique beachfront location. The logos of both the pub and Shepherd Neame’s Whitstable Bay range will be displayed on the yacht’s hull throughout the race.


The award-winning Whitstable Bay collection comprises Whitstable Bay Pale Ale, Whitstable Bay Lager and Whitstable Bay 0.5% Pale Ale. Inspired by the seaside town just a few miles from Shepherd Neame’s historic Faversham Brewery, the range celebrates the character and heritage of the Kent coast.


Licensee of The Old Neptune, Darren Wilton, said:

“Pat is a local at The Old Neptune, and I’ve known him for more than 20 years - we even call him Captain Pat! When he mentioned he would be showcasing Whitstable with a yacht race around Sicily, I really wanted the pub to get involved. You can’t showcase Whitstable without The Old Neptune! We hope the team do well and come back here for a celebratory drink after the race.”

Shepherd Neame Head of Brands Rose Davis said:

“We are thrilled to support the team aboard the Sailing Yacht Cormorant for this historic race. As the first yacht from Whitstable to take on the Rolex Middle Sea Race, this is a fantastic opportunity to introduce our Whitstable Bay range, The Old Neptune pub, and everything else the seaside town has to offer, to an international audience. We wish the team the best of luck!”

From Malta, the fleet heads north towards Sicily before passing through the Strait of Messina, a narrow stretch of water between Sicily and mainland Italy.


The yachts will then race around the volcanic island of Stromboli, along the northern coast of Sicily, and around the western islands of the course, before heading south past Pantelleria and Lampedusa.


The final stretch takes the boats back towards Malta and the finish line, covering approximately 606 nautical miles. The race attracts a diverse field of competitors, from some of the world’s fastest professional racing yachts to experienced amateur crews taking on a demanding offshore challenge. Conditions can include light winds, heavy seas and challenging currents, with crews spending long periods racing through the night. For some, completing the course takes several days at sea.


Patrick said:

“We started with an idea not just to sail a course, but to build a legacy. With the support of Shepherd Neame and The Old Neptune, that idea has become a reality.”

The race can be followed live on the Royal Malta Yacht Club and Rolex Middle Sea Race social media channels, with commentary in English.


Find out more here. 

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Jan 24, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Jan 26, 2025

New research into career change interests has identified the most popular sectors that British workers would like to switch to in 2025.


The study, conducted by IT training provider tecnovy Academy, analysed Google search data from the past year for terms such as 'training near me' and 'courses,' covering nearly 700 careers.


The average monthly search volume relating to each career was calculated to produce the ranking. Each role was also grouped by industry to rank the most popular sectors workers are moving into in 2025.


The most popular sector for British workers to seek training in is sport and fitness, with 29,918 people searching for courses to become a ‘personal trainer’ or ‘fitness coach’ every month.


Nursing and auxiliary work came second, with 29,508 searches every month for training courses. Phlebotomist training is the fifth-most searched for role every month in the UK.


Administration and management rank third, with 28,226 searches each month. Project management is a sought-after career, ranking as the second-most desirable job role in Britain.


In fourth is construction crafts, with 27,743 monthly searches. Plumbing was the most desirable field in this industry, ranking tenth in the UK’s most desirable careers.


Work with animals takes fifth place, as dog grooming has been named the most sought-after job in 2025. Each month, 25,223 Brits search for roles in this industry, with 19,272 of these searches being made for dog grooming training.


Psychology and counselling is sixth, with counselling ranking as the seventh-most popular job. Brits search for psychology-related training 21,160 times each month.


In seventh place is electrical engineering, with 19,977 searches each month. Electrician training is the third-most sought after on this list.


Teaching lands in eighth, racking up 17,398 searches every month. This also lands teaching as the fourth most sought-after job role in the UK.


Advertising, marketing and PR is ninth, and digital marketing is the sixth most desirable career in the UK. The industry inspires 15,969 searches each month.


Rounding out the top ten is mechanical and manufacturing engineering, of which welding is the most popular job role. The industry prompts 14,248 monthly searches for training courses from Brits.


The ten most sought-after sectors to move into in 2025:

Rank

Sector

Average Monthly Searches

1

Sport and fitness

29,918

2

Nursing and auxiliary work

29,508

3

Administration and management

28,226

4

Construction crafts

27,743

5

Work with animals

25,223

6

Psychology and counselling

21,160

7

Electrical engineering

19,977

8

Teaching

17,398

9

Advertising, marketing and PR

15,969

10

Mechanical and manufacturing engineering

14,248

The study also identified the most popular individual job roles that Brits are seeking training for in 2025, ranking dog grooming on top.


The ten most sought-after career changes in 2025:

Rank

Career

Average Monthly Searches

1

Dog groomer

19,272

2

Project manager

19,218

3

Electrician

18,858

4

Teacher

17,398

5

Phlebotomist

15,053

6

Digital marketer

13,126

7

Counsellor

12,671

8

Personal trainer

12,323

9

Classroom assistant

11,878

10

Plumber

11,651

Ertul Topuzoglu, CEO of tecnovy Academy, commented on the findings: “A lot of the careers in this ranking involve practical, physical skills, which cannot be reasonably accomplished by artificial intelligence, which is a concern for many regarding the longevity of their career path."


“All of these roles and industries require qualifications and skill sets which must be taught, and it is positive to see such a high number of Brits are searching for the right training for their sought-after career each month.”


“Dog grooming is a fascinating result for the most desirable career change in the UK. Despite being one of the lower-paid jobs on the list, the ranking suggests that workers are willing to learn new skills to pursue a career they will find emotionally rewarding.”

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