As a leading employer in the Tees Valley, and one of the largest port operators in the UK, we are passionate about providing quality experiences and opportunities for young people in the regions that we operate in.
The next generation will pave the future for our business, and we hope that by giving them the skills and experience needed, they will go on to do great things for the maritime industry.
We’re incredibly proud of the fact that over 52% of our engineering team started their careers with PD Ports and believe this is a testament to the award-winning apprenticeship and training programmes we offer.
There are 52 apprentices currently employed within PD Ports, studying across all locations and functions including finance, engineering, property, IT, construction and accountancy. By offering such a diverse range of programmes, we are able to nurture talent in a number of a key areas.
General Manager for HR David Wilson said: “Apprentices offer a fresh, new take on areas of our business. They are keen to develop, and there is a real desire to learn which is why it is vital that we retain these people as members of our workforce.”
As a business, we recognise talent and are keen to develop programmes around not only the needs of the business, but also the individual. Take current apprentices Emily Clark and Jacob Moat – they impressed so much during their Logistics Academy placements that we knew we couldn’t let them go.
When talented people like this come along, we want to help them progress, so we researched programmes, worked with relevant departments and mapped out their careers right through to chartered status. We hope that by offering this genuine support, it will make people want to stay with us for the duration of their careers.
David explained: “Apprenticeships are about identifying capabilities and nurturing individuals to reach their full potential. Sometimes, it is better to identify someone with a real passion, who is keen and has a vested interest, then train and upskill them.
“We have a huge interest in attracting, retaining and developing local talent and apprenticeships is one way in which we can do that.”
Part of our mission to develop local talent started with developing a bespoke foundation degree at Teesside University in 2009, that was aimed directly at upskilling the then management team. Following the introduction of the apprenticeship levy, we turned what was once a full-time course into a degree apprenticeship, meaning we could provide our staff with the practical skills that underpinned the theoretical knowledge they were gaining.
The course is all about developing and enhancing the skills of our current workforce, and we have the flexibility to tailor the modules and provide real life examples that ensure the course is meeting the needs of the wider business.
Senior members of our team, including Chief Finance Officer Dermot Russell and IT Director Jan-Willem Rikkerink, have delivered sessions as part of the course, which helps us ensure that all learning ties back to PD Ports.
One thing is for sure; the future of our business lies right at the heart of it with our team, so anything we can do to develop them both professionally and personally means that we will continue to succeed together.
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