Blog post: PSS Port Skills Group meeting – November 2024

In November, Forth Ports hosted the last Port Skills Group (PSkG) meeting of the year at the Port of Leith.

Natalie Dalgleish, Head of Learning and Development at Forth Ports and Chair of PSkG, opened the meeting thanking a full room of attendees for making the journey to Leith.

PSS Chief Executive, Debbie Cavaldoro, gave an overview of the PSS remit and reinforced how vital data is for ongoing work to help create safer working environments in the future and work on potential skills gaps. An update on recent events such as the EV Maritime Safety conference and the Women in Ports network meeting and planned mentoring scheme was also provided with invitations to members to come forward as either potential mentors or mentees.

Callum Hogan, Asset Manager at Forth Ports, gave a fascinating presentation on Forth Ports and its renewable projects highlighting how Forth Ports will tackle the skills shortage. Breakout group discussions followed to help PSS consider what new skills are required by ports to meet the need for the renewables sector.

Forthcoming annual campaign weeks in 2025 were highlighted and a call was made for resources, case studies and articles that could be shared for Mental Health in Ports Week, National Apprenticeship Week, Scottish Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week so that PSS can keep increasing awareness each year.

Lunch provided an opportunity for members to catch up with one another before the group reconvened to hear more about the work on competencies to date and how it evolved. Breakout groups facilitated some great discussions on the first draft of SKATE assessment documents with some really useful feedback and input to move the work forward.

The day concluded with an informative port tour by minibus.

Presentations from the PSkG are available to members here.

Next Port Skills Group meeting

The next PSkG meeting will be held online on 25 February 2024. Contact us to register to attend.

More information about the PSkG can be found here. If you are not yet signed up to receive invitations to the PSkG, please contact us.