As an organisation that aims to improve safety at sea – and one that is rooted in the UK’s maritime heritage – the Lloyd’s Register Group (LRG) shares plenty of ground with the RNLI. In 2004 it set up a separate registered charity dedicated to supporting activities that reinforce the safe-keeping of life and to championing understanding of science, engineering and technology. Named the Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust (LRET), it has given financial support to projects all around the world.

In 2007, the RNLI’s volunteers became the latest people to benefit from the Trust, when it donated £625,000 to the Institution’s Train one, save many campaign – the largest single amount received so far. This will fund sea survival courses at The Lifeboat College in Poole for more than 550 crew members over the next 3 years. ‘The RNLI has the same area of focus as us, so it makes complete sense for us to offer our support,’ says the Trust’s Director, Michael Franklin.

‘We aim to fund activities that will be to the benefit of all and, as the campaign title suggests, crew training certainly does that.’

When the Trust first became interested in supporting the RNLI, Michael paid a visit to the RNLI’s Headquarters. ‘I knew the RNLI ran the lifeboat service, but I was completely bowled over by what a large and professional organisation it is – and I began to appreciate why it needs to be like that, with so many lifeboats and stations and crew members.’

His visit included a tour of the College, where he saw the sea survival training that the Trust would later go on to fund. ‘I was really impressed with the facilities – I can completely identify with the RNLI’s commitment to training crews,’ says Michael. ‘I’m not a regular sea user myself, but as someone who has worked for Lloyd’s Register, I know how vital sea safety training is. David Moorhouse, LRET’s Chair of Trustees, is a recreational diver, so he is even more appreciative!’

As well as supporting training and development such as lifeboat crew courses, the Trust has funded schemes that promote engineering amongst young people. ‘We support projects that help young people realise how important and exciting engineering is,’ explains Michael. ‘We want to destroy the perception, fairly common in the UK, that engineering is just fiddling about with cars – engineers solve the world’s problems.’

The RNLI’s own engineers would surely agree. They have close links with the University of Southampton, which has itself received support from the Trust for many years. The University has an excellent reputation in the field of marine engineering, and has formed a technology partnership with the RNLI designed to make advancements in the design and engineering of lifeboats.

‘I think it’s fantastic that we’ve been able to help the RNLI in this way,’ concludes Michael. ‘It’s just great to know that our donation will be training people who will go on to save lives at sea.’ Lifeboat crews will continue to receive the best in sea survival training thanks to an organisation founded in the 18th century

IT STARTED WITH A CUP OF COFFEE …

The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust sprung from the Lloyd’s Register Group (LRG), which aims to enhance safety, checking that assets and systems work at sea, on land and in the air. LRG got its name from Edward Lloyd’s 18th century London coffee house. (Other famous organisations also started there and should not be confused with the entirely separate LRG – Lloyd’s of London international insurance market, for example.)

In the 1760s, coffee house customers with a mutual interest in shipping formed the Register Society and printed the first Register of Ships. The register gave underwriters and merchants an idea as to the condition of the vessels they insured and chartered.

The organisation became Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping in 1834, then began to open its first foreign offices in the 1850s. Through the 20th century, the organisation developed its business to improve safety in other industrial sectors. Today, LRG operates from 240 offices around the world, and has the slogan ‘Life matters’. The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust, set up in 2004, is solely funded by the LRG, but exists as a separate entity and makes independent decisions on which activities it supports.