Director's Blog

Friday 24th April 2009

At their meeting on the 13th April our Board of Trustees approved the NAFC Strategic Plan 2009-2014 for adoption and implementation. This document identifies the 5 key strategic aims for the organisation in the next five years whilst also mapping out what is needed to be done in order for the aims to be met.

This plan is the result of extensive consultation with staff within the Marine Centre and also with external stakeholders and should act as a guide to help shape the organisation moving forward.

Our 5 aims are:-

• To engage all our learners in a distinctive, high-quality learning experience which will prepare them for the world of work and equip them with transferable skills in order to engage in life-long learning and become independent learners.
• To be internationally recognised by industry and academia as a Centre of marine excellence and to increase our competitiveness in the global market.
• To attract, develop and retain outstanding staff and ensure that they have the appropriate resource to fulfil their roles and job descriptions.
• To provide a sustainable, safe and quality environment for our staff, students and visitors which will enable our strategic aims to be met.
• To maintain good governance, leadership and management and ensure financial sustainability.

All staff have had a copy of the plan and have had the chance to feedback on its content and format prior to its approval and subsequent implementation and the final version is now available on the NAFC Marine Centre intranet.

Monday 13th April 2009

Well there you go...I had a simple job...all I had to do was update my blog at least once a week and everything would be fine...but could I do this one simple task? Nope!

However I do have a good reason and that is that last week just flew by...and what an exciting week it was too as it saw The NAFC Marine Centre welcoming a group of high level trainees from the other side of the globe! Eight Iranians came to Shetland to undertake a specialist training programme involving the Centre's state-of-the-art simulator suite.

The group of tug masters was led by Captain Alireza Taherdin, marine operation and offshore projects manager of Sokan Pars Marine Services in Iran, which provides a range of services to the Iranian offshore oil and gas sector.

When I asked Alireza why they had chosen The NAFC Marine Centre as the location for their training, he said: 'We've recently won a contract, which involves providing training for the masters of new ASD tug boats.

'We set about identifying the places in the world that would provide the requisite simulator training to the tug masters and engine operators of the new tugs. Our UK partner Gilchrist Marine Services advised us that there was an active centre in Shetland and, after further investigation, we established that the course met our requirements in terms of duration, cost and the experience of the training staff.

'Shetland is almost the furthermost island from our country and, even after the first day, I could see the depth of experience here at the NAFC Marine Centre. It is clear that a few days training here easily equates to a few years' practical hands on experience at home.

'I've worked in the marine services industry for 37 years and, after only a few minutes in the simulator, I could appreciate the value and sophistication of the equipment and the professionalism of the staff in meeting our requirements. I'm very impressed with the facility here and hope we can return in the future to build on what we've learned this week.'

I also hope that Alireza and his colleagues return to Shetland very soon.

Wednesday 1st April 2009

As we currently work our way through the review of our Strategic Plan it does give us a chance to think about what exactly the Vision and Mission of The NAFC Marine Centre is?

Below is our answer to this all important question...

Our Vision is

To provide a focus for education, training, research and advice in support of all the maritime activities of Shetland, with strong links to other similar centres across Europe, The North Sea and the North Atlantic regions.

To act as a catalyst for innovation and entrepreneurship within the community and beyond.

Our Mission is

To be recognised by industry and academia as a Centre of marine excellence. To be the service provider of choice for training, research, services and advice for the nautical, fisheries, engineering, aquaculture and food industries within Shetland and Scotland. To provide the best possible services to our clients and partners; delivering proven benefits to both customers and the wider economic area.

We will strengthen our contribution to the communities of Shetland and Scotland by:

• Offering a flexible approach to training and education for people and businesses
• Promoting and supporting the development of fisheries, aquaculture, nautical, engineering & related industries
• Encouraging innovation to encourage better, cost-effective, strategies to conserve energy, reduce waste and provide better value for money
• Forging partnerships with schools, Universities, other research & training providers and others (including local and national governments, non-governmental organisations, funders, etc) to meet their needs in the most effective way
• Maintaining our commitment to provision of high quality service delivery by monitoring performance regularly and reviewing opportunities for improvement
• Encouraging social inclusion, ensuring that services, training and education are available to all and that we are fair, courteous, consistent and accountable
• Recognising the value of our staff, their professionalism, knowledge, skills and judgement and provide opportunities for their continuous development

The NAFC Marine Centre's 5 Core Values

The NAFC Marine Centre is a 'values led' organisation. The following values have been identified as being the pillars on which all of our interactions and engagements will be based. No one Core Value is any more or less important than the others. The values will be adopted and openly exhibited by all.

Quality

We are committed to doing the best we can in all we do.

We take responsibility for setting and achieving high standards and are proud of what we are able to achieve. We value quality in others, seek to learn from our mistakes, transfer good experiences and strive to continuously improve. We deliver what we have committed to do. We meet our deadlines and keep those affected informed of our progress.

Valuing People

We treat all people with courtesy and respect.

We involve and listen to others and show consideration and empathy for their emotional and physical well-being. We value others for their contribution, irrespective of personal differences. We are honest, trustworthy and straightforward in our dealings and use time, money and resources wisely. We derive value through investing in our people, supporting their development and encouraging them to achieve their potential.

Customer Focus

We will put our customers at the heart of what we do.

By understanding our customers, we are able to anticipate and meet their needs and strive to exceed their expectations. We are committed to providing a learning experience for our students that is flexible in its delivery, tailored to their requirements and high on perceived value. We want all of our stakeholders to be delighted by their experience, proud of their achievements and become active promoters of the NAFC Marine Centre.

Challenge & Innovation

We create an environment which challenges all our participants to set high standards for themselves and others.

We encourage and are stimulated by being challenged and challenging others in a constructive and positive fashion. We recognise that in seeking to attain the heights, some may fall and that our first response should be 'what can I/we do to help'. We will actively support staff and students. We shall encourage them to be innovative and enterprising and adopt an external business focus.

Opportunity & Openness

We are outwardly facing and accessible to the wider community in which we operate.

We are passionate about extending the opportunities our Centre provides to a much larger audience. We are approachable and easy to deal with. We try to make complicated things easier to understand. We create a positive and rewarding environment for all who have contact with us. We promote a team approach based on honest two-way communication and a willingness to share and include.