TRAINING WITH WIGHTLINK

RMT helpline 0800 376 3706 :: january 2011 :: RMTnews 11 Little did Claire Apsey know when she started delivering customer service courses for Wightlink ferries a couple of years ago that she would end up training as a crewperson, having already completed training in port operations. In fact she has become an integral part of the Wightlink operation, delivering customer services courses and helping to develop qualifications like the Port Operations NVQs and the Crewperson NVQs which are now proving so popular. Claire is part of Island Training, the Isle of Wight College’s business training arm, where she is a principal NVQ assessor. Working in partnership with Wightlink has developed since the inception of the RMT/Wightlink learning agreement and her role has grown from assessor to include mentoring and liaison between RMT, the company’s human resources team and the college. Developing NVQs for port operations and crewpersons meant training in these areas and she’s still carrying out crewperson training. “It’s been a huge learning curve”, she said, “but I’m really enjoying the challenge, and especially working with people who are keen to help and to learn”. Claire’s enthusiasm for the task in hand is such that she’s regularly seen on the night boats: “I’m happy to come out at midnight to speak to anyone wanting to do a course, or to assess those already on courses. “It’s important to be available to everyone when they’re working – it helps to make the learning process easier,” she says. “The courses are going well and, importantly, the people taking them are finding it useful, challenging and enjoyable. “It’s particularly gratifying because many of them, whilst they are excellent at their jobs and very knowledgeable about them, would previously have found the theory side daunting, but are now getting stuck in to it,” she says. RMT learning rep Shelagh Morris says that the part Claire plays in the learning agreement is vital. “She has a great rapport with the students, the learning reps and the company. “Her dedication and hard work has made learning easy and she has encouraged people and made them understand that adult learning can be fun,” she says. First Mate Dave Muff, who has gained NVQ Level II in Customer Service said: “I have not studied for years, and have really enjoyed the process this time around”. Phil Wicker, Crewperson and holder of NVQ Level II in Customer Service said: “If I had a query Claire was always contactable by email or phone and always ready to help”. Capt David Blake has been helping to train Claire as a crewperson so that she can further develop the NVQs. “She always liaises with me to ensure that she does not interfere with the everyday running of the vessel. “Claire is welcome on board at any time and she fits in so well, she’s just become part of the team,” he says. TRAINING WITH WIGHTLINK Claire Apsey joined ferry company Wightlink to deliver courses as part of the RMT learning agreement now she is learning the ropes as one of the crew 1st Mate Dave Muff shows Claire Apsey the hydraulics systems Claire Apsey with Mitch Roskilly