The Haven Gateway Partnership, which is the UK partner in the Port-Net project, was represented by project manager Richard Morton and John Winn, consultant solicitor at Birketts, Ipswich.

The Port-Net initiative was set up to promote inter-regional co-operation of ports and multimodal structures within the EU and is a network of 19 partners from 12 EU states and Russia.

Richard Morton said, 'The more we take part in these events, the more it becomes apparent that there are common problems, but many different approaches to choosing solutions.

While we were in Italy, we were able to set up international links with education providers there who are facing exactly the same skills issues as the Haven Gateway in terms of numbers of people and ensuring access to training.'

Among the sessions at the workshop was a discussion of 'Freight Villages', which are new dedicated sites with all the necessary services, such as banks and post offices, where transport and logistics ventures have room to grow organically without being forced to move.

This concept is of particular interest to the Haven Gateway as it prepares for major port expansions at Felixstowe South and Bathside Bay, Harwich, which will in turn lead to further growth of the transport and logistics sector in the region. Freight Villages could also be a key way forward as part of the Haven Gateway's possible 'Growth Point' status, for which it has applied.

MJ Information No: 21831