Do crewmembers ever "level up"? And how to make friends?

Okay, I have a ship where my people haven't been eaten by spider-monsters or died of starvation! Woo!

Do they ever get better in their skills? Do I need to allocate points at some time? 

Also, how do you gain allies from factions? I have met one other crew and figured out how to trade, but at the time didn't have anything to really work with. Is trading how you build allies?

I am definitely enjoying the game and the direction it's going in.