KTP is a partnership between a business, a knowledge base (such as Plymouth University) and a recent graduate, part funded by government organisations and the business. Plymouth University Environmental Science graduate Harriet Knowles was employed as a Maritime Sustainable Development Officer through the KTP programme, working on a sustainable development project on behalf of FHC. The 30-month project came to an end in March, and Harriet is now employed as a full-time member of staff at FHC.
Each KTP final report is independently assessed by the Technology Strategy Board at the end of the programme, and FHC received the exciting news and a certificate of excellence last week.
Falmouth Harbour Master Mark Sansom said he would highly recommend the scheme to other businesses in the area. “We are delighted with the success of the KTP project and the valuable work the partnership produced. We are proud to continue the post of maritime sustainable development officer at FHC beyond the KTP project.
“By tackling key environmental issues head on, we are proactively instigating more efficient and environmentally aware methods of running our port.
“The project has touched on a number of aspects of port operations, from assisting with research for the Falmouth Port Development Initiative to developing an environmental management system for the port and improving communication with port stakeholders.
“We want to continue links with academic institutions and have recently established a joint venture with Falmouth Marine School, which encourages students to contribute towards a growing research bank of information.”
Last year 22 marine focussed student projects were supported by FHC and a hugely successful open day for the work was hosted at the National Maritime Museum.
Harriet has worked on a number of academic projects since starting in October 2008. A key area of her work has been to investigate the effects of anchoring in Falmouth Bay, and to relate its effect on important environmental habitats in the area.
Harriet said: “The project allows me to call on experts at Plymouth University and draw on their experience, which all adds to the value of being employed through a KTP project.
“Had an external organisation been commissioned to carry out this work there would have been a significant cost to FHC - as it is I carry out the work as part of my wider role in the organisation, which gives me a broader knowledge of the subject and allows me to concentrate on other projects at the same time. There is no doubt that KTP provides a very cost-effective way of obtaining expert information.”
Professor John Dinwoodie, Academic Lead on this KTP, said: “This KTP has raised Plymouth University’s profile of sustainable maritime research within the UK and international ports industry and academic community, to complement the University’s £40million investment in the Marine Institute infrastructure.”
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