Empowering the Next Generation at HYDRO 2025

At Elevate Offshore, we’re committed to developing and supporting the next generation of hydrographic professionals. Investing in emerging talent is central to how we strengthen the industry and ensure it continues to thrive for years to come.

When planning our attendance at HYDRO 2025 in Liverpool (28–30 November), we made a conscious decision to use one of our delegate tickets to create an opportunity for someone to experience one of the industry’s most important gatherings, and to share that experience with the wider community.

We offered the ticket as a giveaway at a Hydrographic Society event in early October, and the winner was Ethan Harrison, a final-year student Ocean Exploration & Surveying at the University of Plymouth.

It couldn’t have gone to someone more invested in the field.

“I was eager to attend to broaden my knowledge of current technologies and research, as well as to meet professionals and employers before entering the industry next year.”

What stood out?

Over three days, HYDRO 2025 delivered an impressive mix of insights, from global research breakthroughs to cutting-edge survey technologies. For Ethan, one session stood out in particular: ‘The Golden Age in Shipwreck Discovery’ by David L. Mearns OBE, which he described as both inspiring and technically rich.

Our own team shared similar impressions.

Andrew Blears, Managing Director at Elevate Offshore, described HYDRO 2025 as “fantastic,” highlighting the volume of meaningful conversations, new ideas, and familiar faces that attended the event. Like Ethan, he noted how valuable it was to hear first-hand about the challenges and opportunities shaping offshore survey right now.

Hannah Rodger, Account Manager at Elevate Offshore, also reflected on the atmosphere, calling the event “a reminder of just how much passion and innovation drives this industry forward.”

Seeing the sector clearly

For Ethan, HYDRO 2025 offered more than knowledge — it offered perspective. Meeting organisations and technology providers face-to-face helped him understand the skill sets employers value most in early-career surveyors, and he’s now adapting his final-year studies to align with those priorities.

“Speaking with representatives helped me understand the most sought-after skills and knowledge in graduate surveyors.”

That’s exactly the kind of real-world awareness we aim to encourage. Hannah summed it up perfectly by joking that her favourite photo from the event was of herself typing between sessions — a small reminder that balancing client needs, learning, and industry engagement is part of modern hydrographic life. Events like HYDRO 2025 capture that energy.

Why we do this.

Events like HYDRO 2025 aren’t just calendar highlights. They’re where ideas evolve, collaborations begin, and the next generation of hydrographic professionals find their footing.

We’re proud that this initiative gave a student like Ethan the chance to experience the industry at its best, and to step forward with greater confidence and clarity about his future.

Good luck, Ethan — we’re pleased to have played a small part in your journey into surveying.