Blog post: PSS visit to Felixstowe

PSS Skills, Careers and Diversity Lead, Angela Ward, recently visited the Port of Felixstowe to meet the team, learn more about its operations and training facilities, and discuss current skills priorities and challenges.

Angela met with Anika Shenfield, HR Manager – Apprenticeships and Future Skills; Mark Brown, Senior Manager, Infrastructure and Operational Training; and Mark Cook, Operational Training Manager. Discussions covered PSS’s current projects and working groups, including the lifting operations standard and competence framework, which were received positively.

The visit also explored Felixstowe’s specific training requirements, its commitment to apprenticeships, and its working partnership with the local college, particularly in relation to engineering apprenticeships. There was a clear interest in becoming more involved in PSS’s work and contributing the team’s experience to relevant projects and working groups.

A tour of the port provided an opportunity to see operations first-hand, including the implementation of automated vehicles and plans for their future use. Angela also visited the indoor and outdoor operational training facilities, gaining an insight into the structured approach to training and assessment.

Discussions explored the practical challenges of maintaining competence during busy operational periods, alongside sector-specific training requirements for lifting operations.

PSS thanks the Port of Felixstowe team for their time, hospitality, and open discussions throughout the visit.

Member visits give PSS an important opportunity to hear directly about the issues affecting individual ports, understand different approaches to skills and training, and see how these work in an operational environment.

PSS would be delighted to hear from members who would like to invite us to visit their port. Please get in touch.