04.07.2013

PLA opens up Thames Opportunities

The Careers Open Day is the second Thames employment focused event at the PLA's Gravesend base in two months; pupils saw round PLA and other vessels at the Thames Training Alliance event in May. (Click on image to enlarge)

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is joining a drive to encourage young job seekers to look to the Thames for their career.

The port authority, which is currently recruiting for three apprentices and a marine trainee, will be hosting a careers Open Day at its Gravesend navigation and marine services bases on Thursday 18 July.

Twenty four Thames-based companies will be exhibiting on the PLA’s Royal Terrace Pier, promoting their services and introducing real-world working skills and career paths to businesses, jobseekers and those in education. Among those exhibiting will be DP World who are currently developing the new £1.5 billion London Gateway Port in Essex and marine services company, Red 7 Marine.

Places on the programme, which starts at 11 am, are limited and can be booked by email here.

Those who secure a place will visit/see the PLA’s: 

• Workshops
• Shot-blasting bay
• Divers’ area, incorporating the decompression tank
• TOSCA (Oil Spill Response)
• Salvage vessel
• Boat lift / boat mover
• Hydrographic set-up
• Vessel Traffic Services

Speaking about the event, PLA’s chief harbour master, David Phillips, explained:

“The main purpose of this event is to show young people the skills that are required to work on the Thames and the terrific potential for a lifelong and rewarding career on the river; you don’t have to be a sailor.  It is also intended to show businesses in the Thames region the business opportunities that exist on the river in terms of infrastructure, trade and management and prompt business to consider how they might contribute to the continued economic development of the River Thames. 

“Make no mistake, the Thames offers great prospects.  In the next few years we will see the new container port opening, Thames Water starting to use the river to services its massive Thames Tunnel scheme and passenger services continuing to grow.  There’s no better time than now to equip yourself with marine skills, whether it’s with the PLA or the Thames Training Alliance.”

The National Maritime Development Group is organising the Careers Day.  Earlier in the morning their latest group meeting will be held at the PLA’s Denton Wharf, where the PLA’s Julian Parkes, a board member of the Thames Training Alliance, will be speaking about the alliance’s ‘Marine Apprenticeship Scheme’ and how they will support commerce to improve the economic output of the river and the capital.

The Thames & Channel National Maritime Development Group represents a maritime ‘cluster’ of more than 4000 businesses, employing 105,000 people, with a turnover of £5 billion per annum.