We talked in one of our blogs last year about the events SLR will be sponsoring and participating in during 2023. We kick this off at the end of January with the Shaping Portsmouth conference. One of the ongoing goals of SLR marine recruitment is to be part of the conversation that shapes the community. As such we are proud to become one of the patrons of Shaping Portsmouth and contribute to this important initiative.

What is shaping Portsmouth?

Before we look forward to what will take place at the conference, let’s look at the work of shaping Portsmouth and why SLR became a patron. Shaping Portsmouth is a growing initiative to create innovative programs and support the people of the city as well as promote Portsmouth as somewhere to invest, live and work in. Shaping Portsmouth is supported by an incredible team of volunteers and a group of businesses and financial partners. The action taken in 2022 has attracted increased support both financially and through an uptick in volunteer support.

Here’s what Shaping Portsmouth have to say about the conference:

“Our 2023 Shaping Conference carries the theme of our vision: Transforming Portsmouth Together and we have a brilliant set of speakers and updates for you. The central focus will be on the past, present, and future of what is happening to transform our city, how you can play a part, and what we as Shaping Portsmouth are doing to support our vision.

Speaking at the event will be Andrew Cullen, CEO of Portsmouth Football Club, and Hannah Prowse, CEO of The Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, who will be talking about the regeneration plans for Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Leader of Portsmouth City Council Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson will also be back for a council update and a Q&A, along with the return of the Disability Confident panel, in which Chris Hillman of the Minstead Trust speaks to young people who are at different stages of their employment journey to find out how they can make a positive impact on your business.”

Supporting Portsmouth’s apprentices

The next step after the conference will be The Apprentice bus which will be making its way around Portsmouth during National Apprenticeship Week which runs 6th – 12th February.

In terms of education, Shaping Portsmouth wants to be part of the journey of supporting young people from education right through to employment. These efforts sit nicely alongside SLR’s continued drive to provide employment opportunities for Portsmouth-based candidates. The SLR team feels it is important to participate in programmes that continue to build our community and improve opportunities for our young people.

SLR and the Armed Forces Covenant.

Within Shaping Portsmouth, The Armed Forces Covenant programme has the vision to make Portsmouth the greatest city for opportunities for our valuable forces’ personnel. The aim is to get businesses to sign the covenant to recognise the outstanding work of the armed forces and recognise past contributions. This aligns so closely with the aims of SLR and its director Sarah Roads as she seeks to provide time-served individuals with opportunities within the shipbuilding industry.

We can’t wait to be a part of the conference on the 27th, see you there!