Maersk Line UK & Ireland, a leading container shipping company with a significant presence in Felixstowe is working with West Suffolk College, Bury St Edmunds on a new National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) customer service programme.Funded through Train to Gain, so far fifteen delegates have completed the College’s fast track programme. Fast tracking enables delegates to complete their qualification in 16 weeks with almost immediate added value for their organisation.
Maersk Line UK Import Customer Services Manager Russell Harvey said: “There is strong competition in our business and customer service is a key differentiator.
“Obtaining an NVQ is both rewarding for our staff and assists the organisation to ensure awareness of the fundamental importance of good customer service.”
“The College has provided us with very good service; whatever we have asked, there has always been a willingness to say: ‘OK, let’s see what we can do.’”
In December, the College started a parallel programme for nine Maersk Line employees in Southampton. Ten more Maersk delegates have also started an NVQ in Team Leading, similarly funded through Train to Gain.
Maersk Line’s Felixstowe office has also mentored students undertaking the College’s Academy programmes.
“Mentoring and internships are increasingly important” said Mr Harvey. “Our summer interns found the experience incredibly valuable. We even managed to arrange a visit onboard one of our Maersk vessels. When you are aboard a ship that carries 11,000 containers and is longer than the Eiffel Tower, you really start to appreciate that this is an exciting and interesting business.”
Chris Woods, Manager of the Suffolk School of Management at West Suffolk College, said: “The customer service programme with Maersk Line follows on from training delivered under a logistics project called Delivering the Future. This was so successful that as soon as this Train to Gain initiative was available in summer Maersk Line jumped at the opportunity.”
