Volkerstevin in Plymouth

Who Did We Work With?

We started working with Volkerstevin at Devonport Dockyard at the end of 2021 and had people on site from early 2022.

Part of the VolkerWessels group, the company are an ‘industry-leading civil engineering business’ who provide engineering solutions to a number of different sectors, including marine infrastructure, water, energy, flood and coastal protection, land remediation and regeneration, and general civil engineering sectors.

The Project

PSI Global supports Volkerstevin on construction work within a marine environment. This includes recruiting Appointed Persons, Crane Supervisors, Slingers, Concrete Finishers, FLT Telehandlers, Escort Drivers, General Labourers, Store People, and Cleaners. The team recruits Labourers and Cleaners through local organisation Seetec Pluss, and use additional resources to fill the skilled labour roles.

The work we are assisting on is being carried out on 9 Dock as well as 3 Basin within Devonport Dockyard.

What We Did

Our Senior Account Manager Yasmin Lobb has been working with Volkerstevin since the beginning of the project.

Much of the work on the project has included advertising available roles in the first instance to bring qualified workers on board. Following a first meeting with ID verification, each worker is sent a baseline clearance link to complete ahead of starting work on site.

Once each worker has their baseline clearance, they are then able to start work on site. Following this, they must then complete their full SC Clearance for the site they are working on, something the team is on hand to assist with if necessary. For General Operatives, Cleaners, and Drivers who don’t have a CSCS card before starting, the team is able to support them in obtaining this as well. Throughout each of our worker’s time on site, the PSI Global Plymouth team are always available to help them through any issues that might come up.

PSI Global have made mental health support a priority on all of our sites across the UK, and having a team on-site in Plymouth has meant our workforce there always have someone to talk to. During the onboarding period, a mental health poster with information for support is included with their new starter details. Weekly check ins also take place, which ensures support is offered for everyone and that everyone is aware of this.

Not being in work can have an impact on mental health, something that our team is aware of and have worked to help within the community. Since 2021, Yasmin has built relationships with local organisations that help people in the community get back to work. One of the organisations we’ve worked closely with is SeeTec Pluss, whose aim is to get people into work who have been unemployed long term.

The team have regularly attended job events through Seetec Pluss to register potential employees, and have also donated much needed supplies to their centre in Plymouth.

The Results

The project has seen positive results so far, especially in relation to our goal of getting more people in the local community back to into work. As of April 2024, we have started 110 people on site in total, with 53 currently on site. Of the 53 currently on site, 26 have been with PSI Global for over one year, and one has been with us for two years.