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Ship Design going forward? ¦ Do you have retention strategies in place to keep work- ¦ Do you have a viable pipeline of talent coming through ers? Nothing hurts a shipyard more than talented workers your doors? Compete effectively to attract and retain talent. walking out the door. Developing a retention strategy should ¦ Do you promote from within, and do you promote in- be fundamental. This could be apprenticeship programs to dustry pride? A workforce that is proud of what they do is foster internal growth and development of the younger work- probably the best recruiting tool any industry has. It fosters ers in your yard.

community pride in their towns and cities and gets locals to ¦ Identify workers or candidates that will stay for the want to stay and work for them. long haul. Look for candidates that are aligned with company ¦ Do you have collaborations with industry associations values and goals. and government agencies? Most shipyards are the local eco- ¦ Clear paths to advancement are a talent magnet. Can- nomic “blood line”, work in the shipyard fosters work in didates who know they can advance with a company are more the communities in which they reside. These symbiotic rela- likely to stay with a company.

tionships can build industry partnerships that gather interest ¦ Show your workforce that they are appreciated and rec- for individuals to come to those areas and build their lives ognize their achievements. Recognition goes a long way to around the work. fostering a workforce that wants to continue to grow.

¦ Do you have ways to automate and modernize? Invest- ¦ Provide your teams with ongoing learning opportu- ing in modernization and automation can be one of the biggest nities. Skill workshops, career paths, mentorship programs. ways to mitigate “brain-drain” but also it can foster interest in These are tied to the advancement portions that will keep new workforces to come to work for you. A cutting-edge com- skilled employees.

pany is very desirable to a young and upcoming workforce. ¦ Competitive compensation packages and bene? ts. 16 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • August 2024

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