Forth Ports, the UK’s third largest ports group, has boosted its award-winning learning and development team with the appointment and promotion of Simon Harper to Group Learning and Development (L&D) Manager and Natalie Dalgleish to L&D Manager leading the team in Scotland.

Simon Harper has been promoted to Group L&D Manager, taking on responsibility for the L&D teams across the Group which operates eight ports in Scotland and The Port of Tilbury on the Thames.  Simon’s role will see him develop and deploy a more digitally enabled Group L&D strategy, that includes greater use of Artificial Intelligence such as simulators and virtual reality, to future proof Forth Ports’ employees’ skills and capabilities to meet the challenges of a more technology focused post BREXIT/COVID world. Simon has worked with Forth Ports for 15 years in previous L&D roles in Tilbury.

Natalie Dalgleish has been promoted to L&D Manager reporting to Simon Harper. In her new role, Natalie will lead the L&D team in Scotland and oversee the launch of a new learning management system, management and supervisory programmes and a refresh of the annual review process. Natalie has worked with Forth Ports for three years in L&D positions in Scotland.

Forth Ports operates two onsite skills and training centres at The Port of Tilbury (which includes a fully immersive simulator training suite) and The Port of Grangemouth which offers bespoke training programmes for employees from apprentices, operations and management. They also operate training sessions for customers in the port and the local community through partnerships with the local colleges.

Commenting on the appointments, Michelle Primrose, Group HR Manager, said: “At Forth Ports we know the value of ensuring that our people have the skills and experience to deliver an excellent service for the business. Our onsite skills centres in Tilbury and Grangemouth have state of the art training facilities and talented tutors which ensure that all levels of people across the Group have the opportunity to develop their skills in the best learning place. Simon and Natalie are experts in their field and I am confident that they will successfully lead this important part of our business.”

Forth Ports is extremely proud of its record on championing skills and education development and its long-term commitment to support the local communities around its ports with its ‘local jobs for local people’ skills training strategy. Forth Ports has developed very strong partnerships arrangements with local schools and colleges, and actively collaborates with local authorities, regional and government bodies supporting people into employment through its skills and training initiatives.

From those ‘furthest from the jobs market’ in disadvantaged communities to our veteran community, Forth Ports plays a vital role in skilling up and supporting people into work through the employability skills training programmes ‘Access to Logistics’ and ‘Routes to Logistics’.

The Group has invested in two dedicated award-winning learning centres – Logistics Academy East of England in Tilbury and the Skills & Business Centre in Grangemouth – recognising the need to ensure the delivery of quality technical skills training not only for its own workforce, but that of its customer base and the local communities that the ports serve across the UK. Offering a range of learning opportunities from numeracy and literacy, technical skills and apprenticeships through to Leadership development, this investment allows the Group to deliver skills programmes more aligned to the business and community needs.

22 March 2022                                               -Ends-