Call for skills survey participation

Those working within the marine sector in the Gosport, Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour area are invited to complete Portsmouth Harbour Marine’s (PHM) survey.

“We decided to run this survey,” said Mark Bowden chief executive of PHM, “because businesses are telling us they can’t always recruit the people that they need. We can help with this, if we look at developing a long-term strategy. In order to do that, we need to understand what skills are lacking and look at ways of bringing education providers together with businesses to make sure that our young people are being inspired to go into marine trades, and that they are being taught the skills that they need to progress.”

Results from the survey will be used by PHM to work towards making sure companies, such as engineering, marine design and composite manufacturing firms, have a clear track for staff development.

Mr Bowden said that the survey is not just about attracting young talent, but also attracting those already invested into their marine careers to the area.

“Portsmouth Harbour Marine will be looking at supporting this activity, encouraging individuals and companies to make their home alongside the likes of HMS Victory, the UK centre of yacht racing and the current ‘rock star’ teams of UK racing, like Alex Thomson Racing and Team Ineos UK,” he said.

The survey can be taken online. It takes less than ten minutes to complete.

By Rebecca Jeffrey