10 March 2010
Two Jersey brothers with a lifetime’s love of the sea have been accepted as apprentices with Jersey Harbours. Carl Gavey (21) and Aaron Gavey (23) will both become Port Operations Apprentices on 1 March.
The brothers were shortlisted with 6 other candidates from an original 42 applicants. The final group took part in a two day selection centre which involved formal interviews, personality profiling and group tests designed to assess communication skills, team work, problem solving, delegation and decision making skills.
The four year apprentice scheme run by the Port of Jersey will give Aaron and Carl experience in all areas of Jersey Harbours business, including the commercial port, Jersey marinas and Jersey Coastguard. Each apprentice will spend six months in each department and their training will include working on the tug, the Duke of Normandy.
Human Resources Manager Martin Dyer said “We are thrilled to have Aaron and Carl on board here at Jersey Harbours. It is a first for us to have two brothers joining the team at the same time like this too, but both have quite unique, but different maritime backgrounds, so have already demonstrated their commitment to a future in the industry. This is also the first year that the Port Operations Apprenticeship Scheme has been offered and we see the high number of candidates who applied as evidence of the appeal of a career working in the Port of Jersey. Aaron and Carl will enjoy a varied and diverse four years and by the time they have completed their programme with us, they will have acquired a range of expert new skills and a nationally recognised qualification. “
Aaron and Carl will complete a formal NVQ in Port Operations during the training and although there is no guarantee of a job after the scheme, their experience and new qualification will make them eligible for a future career working in the port of Jersey whether for posts with Jersey Harbours or with other Port Users, such as CI Logistics, Condor, Huelin Renouf or Ferryspeed.
Aaron and Carl grew up in Grouville and spent much of their childhood on the family’s motor boat, owning their own 16ft Orkney from the age of eight and ten and spending the summer holidays at the Ecrehous.
Since then Aaron has gained a BSc (Hons) in Marine Geography at Cardiff University, before working on Geological and Hyrographical Survey Ships in Kenya, Angola and the Arctic Circle. He was also part of the team onboard the survey ship MV Vigilant sent in to locate the helicopter which crashed in the North Sea off Aberdeen in April 2009.
Carl has sailed across the Atlantic as part of his RYA Ocean Yachtmaster qualification, based in the Isle of Wight, and since then has enjoyed being part of crews working on Super Yachts based in the Mediterranean. More recently, he has been working in the Island on the Duke of Normandy Tug and the pilot boats.
Aaron said: “We are both really pleased to have been accepted on this apprentice scheme and looking forward to the challenges ahead. We grew up enjoying the seaside, learning to sail and loving the marine environment Jersey has to offer. We have carried this passion for the sea and for sailing on through the starts of our careers, although in very different and contrasting maritime industries off the island. It is fantastic to be able to return with a little bit more experience under our belts, before launching a new start with Jersey Harbours. “
The cost of the training is assisted by the States Skills Board which offers up to £8,500 to employers for each four-year apprenticeship.
gov.je