Thames Tideway Tunnel project will leave legacy to tackle maritime skills shortage
23 February 2015
The construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel next year is an opportunity to build a “legacy” to address key skill shortages in the maritime sector, according to Sezen Zeki, managing director at JobsinMaritime.com, the job site and recruitment consultancy charged with filling maritime roles on the project.
Mon, 23 Feb 2015
The construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel next year is an opportunity to build a “legacy” to address key skill shortages in the maritime sector, according to Sezen Zeki, managing director at JobsinMaritime.com, the job site and recruitment consultancy charged with filling maritime roles on the project.
The construction project, which will upgrade London’s antiquated sewage system at more than 11 sites along the Thames, begins next year with completion due in 2023.
Recruitment is already underway and is to be supported by awareness days to be held tomorrow [24 February] at Chatham Maritime and subsequent events in London and Essex in March, April and May.
Due to skills shortages in the sector, Zeki told Recruiter, a mix of experienced and inexperienced hires will be sought to meet the demand of filling 600 maritime jobs. The new recruits will work together and be trained by Thames Tideway Tunnel, in roles such as mates, captains, deck hands and marine engineers, to prepare the way for construction of the tunnels through dredging and removing spoil (excess material).
Raw recruits will undergo training but experienced hires, who may have worked on ships or tugboats, will also be provided with local knowledge of the Thames waterways.
According to Zeki, the project will go some way to addressing the skills shortage of maritime skills in the UK: “It is something they don’t promote at schools. There is a big piece of work that has been done behind this.”
She added: “The Thames Tideway Tunnel understands we don’t have enough individuals to fill those roles hence the reason they want to leave a legacy behind them with this.
“You’re going to have experienced marine contractors and then we’re looking at bringing the younger generation into the sector. So over the duration of seven years, they can train them up through the project with experienced people and give them qualifications they need so they’re coming out at the other end as a better skilled person, as well as bringing youngsters back into the sector.”
The construction project, which will upgrade London’s antiquated sewage system at more than 11 sites along the Thames, begins next year with completion due in 2023.
Recruitment is already underway and is to be supported by awareness days to be held tomorrow [24 February] at Chatham Maritime and subsequent events in London and Essex in March, April and May.
Due to skills shortages in the sector, Zeki told Recruiter, a mix of experienced and inexperienced hires will be sought to meet the demand of filling 600 maritime jobs. The new recruits will work together and be trained by Thames Tideway Tunnel, in roles such as mates, captains, deck hands and marine engineers, to prepare the way for construction of the tunnels through dredging and removing spoil (excess material).
Raw recruits will undergo training but experienced hires, who may have worked on ships or tugboats, will also be provided with local knowledge of the Thames waterways.
According to Zeki, the project will go some way to addressing the skills shortage of maritime skills in the UK: “It is something they don’t promote at schools. There is a big piece of work that has been done behind this.”
She added: “The Thames Tideway Tunnel understands we don’t have enough individuals to fill those roles hence the reason they want to leave a legacy behind them with this.
“You’re going to have experienced marine contractors and then we’re looking at bringing the younger generation into the sector. So over the duration of seven years, they can train them up through the project with experienced people and give them qualifications they need so they’re coming out at the other end as a better skilled person, as well as bringing youngsters back into the sector.”
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