Award Nomination:
In Support of the Port’s Learning and Development Strategy “Building Skills for the Future”. Port of Dover has developed a programme to work in partnership with local colleges in the delivery of T Level work placements.
This not only gives an opportunity for young people to complete a compulsory part of their qualification and gain insight into the work-place, it is also a chance for the Port to get the enthusiasm and drive from young workers at the start of their career. We also use the time as an extended work preview for Apprenticeship and other entry level positions.
Our people take time deliver presentations in the classroom to T Level students to shape the curriculum and support the delivery of the qualifications in line with the ports skills needs for the future. Giving the T Level syllabus and learning a context with our operation and activities and sharing career pathways at Port of Dover.
Additional Information:
Skills development, career pathways and workforce empowerment. The award will celebrate members who design, implement, or support innovative skills programs, which promote professional growth, port careers, and contribute to developing future talent in the maritime industry
Port of Dover have developed a programme to support “Building Skills for the Future, our learning development strategy”.
The strategy identifies learning pathways that create talent pipelines through the business which includes long and short-term placements, graduate and apprenticeship programmes and internal development programmes which are delivered through the creation of competency based Personal Development Plans where learning through coaching, experience and training qualifications are supported. This also links to the Port’s talent management and succession planning processes.
An example of how the port is implementing this strategy is through the T-Level placement programme.
The T-Level placement programme recognises importance of supporting local young people and educational institutes in the delivery of this new qualification.
POD provides opportunities for the placement aspect of the T-Level programmes along with supporting the curriculum by delivering presentations, linking the operations and activities of the port to what is being taught in the classroom.
Working in partnership with East Kent College Group, POD have worked closely with the Engineering, Business, Construction and IT T-Level teaching teams at the EKC Group campuses in Dover, Folkestone and Canterbury,
The engagement process starts with classroom-based presentations introducing the Port and its Operations, followed by tailored content to match the curriculum requirements of the T-Level– for Engineering it covers the ports range of assets, maintenance and engineering management processes. For business it covers the broad range of business operations such as HR, Finance and Procurement. For IT it covers infrastructure and system development. During the presentation, we take the time to promote opportunities for students to apply for structured placements working within our Business with real life interviews to prepare them for the real world in a safe environment, providing constructive feedback.
Positions have been made available in Engineering, Finance, IT, Construction and our procurement team.
Four students have successfully completed their placements, five are currently working alongside our experienced team and a further three opportunities are currently available.
Through strengthening our relationship with the colleges and the students we are supporting the talent pipeline promoting the port as an employer of choice whilst simultaneously ensuring the programme being delivered reflects the future skills and needs of the business and port sector itself. We look forward to the students applying for apprenticeship and other entry level positions in the future.
POD has also offered work placements to Teaching Staff to help them understand the practical application of the curriculum.
Not only do these programmes support the students they also support the development of the mentors. For example, an Engineering T-Level student was supported and mentored by an Engineering Technician. The Technician encouraged questioning and curiosity in the student to understand mechanical principles and practices – cascading and transferring their own knowledge and experience. A supervisory opportunity arose in the Engineering department and we are pleased to say the mentor successfully applied.
The skills and knowledge developed whilst mentoring the student demonstrated the skills and behaviours required for the promotion.
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“This is Maisie working with Jim. She was amazing and we look forward to her applying to work at POD one day.”
Neil Dalus, TT Club – award sponsors | Simon Divito, Levi Lemar and Marisa George, Port of Dover | Stuart Wallace – Chair, PSS.