Study provides DWDR team member a new career direction

As a project based in the East Kent region, and with a policy to recruit locally wherever possible, the Port of Dover’s Dover Western Docks Revival (DWDR) development has been a good source of employment for many local people.

Dover resident, Tracy Taylor who has worked in construction for over 15 years with experience in secretarial, administration and document control was over the moon when she was offered the role of project secretary back in 2014. With only a five minute walk to the project office and one of the first on the scene she looked forward to the challenges of the office setup, tender and construction phases of this diverse marine and land project.

The Port of Dover and DWDR have a strong ethos for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and with Tracy’s varied experience, she was a prime candidate for further expanding her skill set. In 2018, she attended and completed an IOSH Managing Safety course which qualified her as an Affiliate Member of the IOSH Professional Body.

Fully armed with her new qualification Tracy has become more involved with the Health and Safety regime, joining senior managers on the site safety inspections, inducting contractors and their respective sub-contractors and writing the health and safety reports.

To further add to her newfound status Tracy attended a NEBOSH Certificate in Construction course and in August 2019 passed the exams with the excellent grade of Credit.

The next step was to continue with her independent professional development via IOSH and complete such courses as First Aid, Mental Health Awareness, C&G Confined Spaces Training, Asbestos Awareness and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). As a result, in October Tracy was awarded TechIOSH allowing her to practice as a safety professional.

Tracy reflects on the extra study while working full time and says; “Even though it has been hard work achieving the qualifications, my long term goal is to continue with the studying and to achieve NEBOSH Diploma in Construction Health and Safety and eventually become chartered (CMIOSH). I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me by both the Port and the DWDR management team as my job is now much more rewarding and offers more potential for the future.

Kevin Williams, Senior Project Manager DWDR, said, “Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is an essential process to ensure the construction industry maintains a skilful and up to date work force. Often the emphasis is on graduate technical staff working toward chartered status so the opportunity to be able to add another skill set to someone in mid-career is extremely rewarding. Tracy approached the exams with maturity and dedication and has now taken on, and added value to, an extremely important function in the project’s delivery.”