ABNB at Southampton Boat Show: Celebrating Our Inland Waterways Industry
After two thoroughly enjoyable (and very warm) days at Southampton Boat Show, I am back in the office feeling refreshed, encouraged and so proud of the inland waterways industry.
ABNB was delighted to join several other inland businesses in sponsoring the Discover Britain’s Inland Waterways stand. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, share our enthusiasm for the waterways and introduce more people to the unique experiences that boating can offer.
There is so much to celebrate within our sector, and it was particularly encouraging to see businesses working collaboratively to promote the inland waterways and raise their profile among visitors to the show.
Monday morning began with Broker Fest, a joint event hosted by British Marine and ABYA. It was a particularly memorable occasion for me, as I was very surprised and delighted to receive a framed certificate confirming that I had successfully completed the Certified Professional Boat Broker Pathway (CPBB).
This new pathway has been developed to recognise professionalism within the boat brokerage industry, providing a structured route for brokers to demonstrate their knowledge, experience and commitment to professional standards.
I am incredibly proud to be one of the first three brokers to achieve this accreditation, and I’m also proud to be an Ambassador for the Pathway.
I’m particularly passionate about encouraging professional development within our industry. Boat brokerage requires a broad range of knowledge, experience and skills, and I would love to see more brokers take part in the pathway and receive recognition for the professionalism they bring to their work.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in developing and delivering the pathway. It is a positive step towards supporting brokers and promoting professional standards across the sector.
Following Broker Fest, Monday afternoon brought an opportunity to catch up with colleagues at a networking event hosted by ABYA and YDSA.
Events such as these provide valuable opportunities to share experiences, discuss the challenges facing our industry and build relationships with fellow professionals. As an independent, family-run brokerage, we place great importance on maintaining those connections and contributing to the wider boating community.
National recognition for ABNB
Monday evening saw Justin and I attend the British Marine Trades Association Awards Dinner.
Having won the Inland Association Business of the Year Award for 2025/26, we were delighted that ABNB was named a runner-up in the National Awards.
We were naturally disappointed not to take home the national award, but the standard of competition was exceptionally high, and we were genuinely pleased for the very deserving winners at Rockley Watersports – another family run business.
To be recognised at both inland and national level is a real privilege and it means a great deal to our small, independent business, reflecting the dedication of our team.
Inspiring the next generation of boaters
On Tuesday, we returned to the Discover Britain’s Inland Waterways stand, where we met a wide range of visitors interested in finding out more about life afloat.
It was particularly rewarding to speak to people who had never stepped aboard a narrowboat before. Their curiosity, enthusiasm and amazement at discovering the space and possibilities of inland boating were a real morale boost.
Returning to work with a spring in our step
For those of us who work in the industry every day, it can be easy to forget just how new and exciting the experience is for someone seeing a narrowboat for the first time. Those conversations were a timely reminder of the importance of introducing more people to our waterways and helping them discover what boating could offer.
I return to the office today encouraged by the enthusiasm I encountered throughout the show.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the Discover Britain’s Inland Waterways stand such a success, to British Marine, ABYA and YDSA for bringing colleagues together, and to all the visitors who stopped to chat and find out more.
