People Strategy...Transforming the PLA Through People

Our PLA 3Our PLA2

Our goal as a modern and leading harbourand pilotage authority is to ensure that we have avibrant, safe and sustainable river. We want a port thatsupports growth in freight and passenger traffic, whilstseeing more people enjoy the Thames for leisure,tourism, sport and amenity.

Everyone in the PLA plays a part in delivering thatgoal. People across the organisation are our greatestasset in every sense. We rely on well trained, skilledand motivated individuals and teams workingcollaboratively to achieve results.

The purpose of this People Strategy is to set out how we as an organisationwant to develop in the context of a rapidly changing world. In the way werecruit, develop and retain our people, we need to offer a modern cultureand an employment package that is attractive and competitive.

The Strategy sets out four objectives to provide a focus for our growth asan organisation over the next two years. These are about supporting anddeveloping high performing teams and individuals, increasing thediversity of the workforce, engaging people at all levels and maintaining asharp focus on health and safety.

I am personally committed to providing a great working environment, sowe can all do our jobs well, enjoy working in the PLA and serve ourcustomers and stakeholders as effectively as possible into the future.

Robin

Introduction

Our PLA – Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive

”

“

Our PLA 5Our PLA4

An actionable, measurable

approach...Our People Strategy is a key component in driving highperformance.

It is at the heart of how we will get where we are going as a majorport in the UK.

Our People Strategy is our roadmap for attracting, developing andretaining our most valuable asset – the people that work here.

The Strategy sets out specific steps that are in place, or indevelopment, to support employees in becoming the best at what they do.

It describes the expectations we have of our people and the waysin which our high-performance culture will help them succeed intheir chosen career.

Introduction

People Strategyour four objectives

1To develop high-

performingindividuals and teams

2To increase thediversity of theorganisation,particularly at senior levels

3To strengthen

employeeengagement, by

creating a workplacethat is inspiring,

diverse, innovativeand fulfilling

4To achieve the highest

standards inoccupational health

and safetyperformance,

benchmarked againstother relevantorganisations

To accomplish each of these objectives, wewill continually measure the success of ourPeople Strategy, making adjustments andimprovements as they are needed alongthe way.

The Strategy is designed to grow andevolve along with the needs of the PLAand our people.

The Human Resources team works withsenior management to develop the framework and drive the evolution of the Strategy.

However, every colleague owns it andplays a role in its success.

We will continually measure progressagainst the People Strategy’s objectivesusing a variety of means, includingemployee and stakeholder opinion surveys and a dashboard of keyperformance indicators.

Our PLA 7Our PLA 6

Our people strategy and

its key elements...

22

334

1HIGH

PERFORMANCE

RECRUIT ANDDEVELOP

the way a colleague is chosen for his or her role at the PLA and the tools that

an individual is given to grow, such as new skills

and expanded opportunities

ENGAGEfocusing on the ways

individuals are motivated and engaged in the overall

direction of the PLA

VALUEan increasingly diverse

workforce with everyone’scontribution recognised

and valued

STAYING SAFEAND HEALTHYthe way in which we

provide a safe and healthy working environment

that promotes staff wellbeing

Our People Strategy is centered on four key elements.

HIGHPERFORMANCE

ENGAGERECRUIT

ANDDEVELOP

VALUESTAYING

SAFE AND HEALTHY

Our high-performanceculture relies on thestrength of ourpeople.

As a result,identifying and

attracting the very besttalent is central to the

success of the PLA.

The way we attract that talent isthe first element of our PeopleStrategy: ‘Recruit.’ Selecting thebest people begins withdiscovering, developing andpromoting talented people withinthe PLA whilst recognising thatbringing in external talentthrough healthy turnover alsorefreshes the workforce.

How we identify and

recruit talent...

Selecting talented

people... We know from experience that talent already exists within the PLA, and that giving ourpeople the chance to grow is one of the best business decisionswe can make.

Providing opportunities for ourpeople to move up, or just asimportantly, across functionsenhances employee performanceand improves business results.

At the same time, creating aculture in which talented peopleare recognised and promotedinternally improves our ability to attract the very best whenrecruiting externally in anincreasingly challenging market place.

HIGHPERFORMANCE

ENGAGERECRUIT

ANDDEVELOP

VALUESTAYING

SAFE AND HEALTHY

HIGHPERFORMANCE

ENGAGERECRUIT

ANDDEVELOP

VALUESTAYING

SAFE AND HEALTHY

Our PLA 9Our PLA 8

At the PLA, westrive to make themost of ourcolleagues’talents.

Whether adeckhand or an

environmentalspecialist, a front line receptionist or a senior manager, development of our people is key to our long-termsuccess.

The ‘Develop’ element of our PeopleStrategy sets out the ways we willenable our people both to increasetheir contribution within the PLA andbecome stronger professionals intheir own right.

It also encourages each and everyemployee to take accountability fortheir development.

How we support and promote

our people...

There are three wayswe help our peoplegrow professionally:

� Firstly, byensuring that

managers at everylevel of the PLA make

employee development atop priority and have the tools torecognise and develop talent withintheir teams. This means ensuring thatour line managers are always on thelookout for talent, and that theyconsistently work to help theiremployees access developmentopportunities. It also means puttingtime into key development processes,such as personal development plans, toensure employees are getting the rightopportunities at the right time.

� Secondly, by giving employees atevery level of the PLA the developmentand access to training opportunitiesthey need in order to learn new skillsand develop existing ones. These maybe directly related to their current job,or they may be a new set of skills aimedat preparing an employee to changeroles within the PLA.

� Thirdly, by providing our people ‘onthe job’ opportunities that helps themgrow. These include job rotation,temporary secondments and projectsin other functional areas to expandtheir skill set beyond an existing area ofexpertise and knowledge.

Developing

our people...

HIGHPERFORMANCE

VALUEENGAGE

STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY

RECRUIT AND

DEVELOP

Our PLA 11Our PLA10

The best way tooptimise ourinvestment ingreat people isto ensure as an

organisation weare all pulling in

the same direction.

That’s what the ‘Engage’ element ofour People Strategy is all about.

An engaged workforce is one that isclear about the overall aims of theorganisation, where people see howtheir role fits into the bigger picture,and where everyone is committed to success.

In an engaged workforce, colleaguesare accountable for results, workmore safely and enjoy working hardto get things done. In short, anengaged workforce sees value in its work.

Like all other organisations, the PLAhas its challenges, and everycolleague will experience occasionaldifficulties, regardless of what theirrole is or where they work.

What sets apart engaged colleaguesis that they relish challenge andadopt a positive and creativeapproach to solve any problems they face.

In simple terms they like what theydo and are proud of how they do it.

How we engage

our people...

HIGHPERFORMANCE

STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY

VALUE

RECRUIT AND

DEVELOP ENGAGE

How we value our people – in everything from how wereward their contribution plays a crucial role in ourability to retain our best talent, and is the focus of thethird element of our People Strategy: ‘Value.’

How we reward and

retain talent ...

HIGHPERFORMANCE

STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY

VALUE

RECRUIT AND

DEVELOP ENGAGE

Our PLA 13Our PLA12

At the PLA wevalue diversity,and recognisethe talents andstrengths of ourworkforce to

achieve ourvision to become

the best at what we do,maximising the potential of ourindividual employees.

We do this by fostering anenvironment that celebratessimilarities and differences, whereall employees are respected, valued, and rewarded for theircontributions that drive theachievement of our long termsgoals.

We also seek to go beyondcompensation alone to reward andrecognise our people by improvingthe workplace, supportingemployee community engagementand recognising individual andteam performance.

Diversity of and equality of people,thoughts, and ideas createsprofitability, growth, innovation,and competitive advantage. Whenemployees feel valued, they areengaged in the success of the PLA,and better able to meet the needsof our customers and stakeholders.

At the PLA, we are building adiverse workforce, not only throughstrategic recruitment practices, but

also through flexible benefitpolicies that encourage andsupport diversity.

We define equality as being aboutfairness – ensuring that we are alltreated equally regardless of ourbackground or identity.

Diversity is about recognising,valuing and celebrating differences.It is about creating an environmentand culture that is inclusive, wherewe are all valued and supported tosucceed whatever our backgroundor identity.

Valuing our people also meansensuring that every employee istreated well and equitablyregardless of where in the PLA theymay work, or what role they have.

In order to accomplish this, webenchmark high standards for ouremployee programs across thesector, and support our employeeswith a range of initiatives thatimprove their quality of life.

Likewise, valuing our people meansfinding new and meaningful waysto reward talent, as well ascontributions that go beyondordinary expectations. Each of theseareas provides us withopportunities to demonstrate ourcommitment to our people,reciprocating their commitment tothe PLA.

Valuing

our people

HIGHPERFORMANCE

RECRUIT AND

DEVELOP

STAYING SAFE AND HEALTHY

ENGAGEVALUE

In a sectorwherepersonalsafety isparamount

we continueto work to

ensure our staffgo home safe at the

end of the working day.

The health of our staff ispromoted through a variety ofwellbeing initiatives withsurgeries held throughout theyear involving subjects such as‘know your numbers’, the nationalcampaign for everyone tounderstand and monitor theirblood pressure, and education onthe benefits of healthy eating.

Our Occupational Health Adviserand Occupational Nurse attend

regularly to support theorganisation and provideindividuals with advice andinformation, with theOccupational Nurse also assistingduring the wellbeing surgeries

We have a strong commitment toensure the safety of our staff, thiswas highlighted by a safetyculture survey completed in 2013by an external provider. There isan ongoing pledge to reinforcethis commitment and to improveand drive up standards in all areasof our business.

We have invested significantly in arange of safety training whichcommenced in 2014 and willcontinue into 2015 and beyond.

How we keep people safe

and healthy...

Our PLA14

Delivering ourstrategy...How will we know how well we are doing?

We will use a number of internal and external measures tomonitor the success and progress of our People Strategy,including:

the production of an annual progress report;

employee feedback from staff opinion survey results;

customer and shareholder feedback;

diversity statistics;

staff turnover rates;

sickness absence levels;

accident rates;

disciplinary and grievances levels; and

complaints related to diversity and dignity in theworkplace.

22

334

1HIGH

PERFORMANCE

RECRUIT ANDDEVELOP

the way a colleague is chosen for his or her role at the PLA and the tools that

an individual is given to grow, such as new skills

and expanded opportunities

ENGAGEfocusing on the ways

individuals are motivated and engaged in the overall

direction of the PLA

VALUEan increasingly diverse

workforce with everyone’scontribution recognised

and valued

STAYING SAFEAND HEALTHYthe way in which we

provide a safe and healthy working environment

that promotes staff wellbeing

Port of London AuthorityLondon River HouseRoyal Pier RoadGravesend

KentDA12 2BG

Tel. +44 (0)1474 562200www.pla.co.uk

@LondonPortAuth