Thames Skills Academy (Tsa)

The Role of the Thames Skills Academy The TSA was established in 2016 by a group of four Founding Members - The Port of London Authority (PLA), Tideway, Transport for London and the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. These organisations have a direct and long-term interest in maintaining safety on the tidal Thames; and indeed, raising the standard of skills and the competency of individuals working commercially in the Inland Waterways and port operations sectors within the Port of London and wider Thames Estuary. The Service we Provide The TSA brokers and facilitates a comprehensive range of training options to meet the marine, non-marine skills and competency requirements of marine and marine-related operators on the Thames. It is envisaged that the TSA will start to deliver training directly in the near future, with the longer-term aim of being an approved training provider and delivering Government-funded programmes. The TSA actively supports its members with recruitment, through engaging with young people and promoting careers in the maritime sector; in particular the Inland Waterways. As a pro-active member of the Maritime Skills Alliance, we’re also assisting and supporting employers through the development, maintenance and revision of marine competency requirements, qualifications and apprenticeship standards. Our Customers We provide services primarily to and on behalf of our Employer Members. Through close liaison and consultation, we identify what each employer’s individual training needs really are and address these through our offering of high quality, cost effective training. The TSA acts as a broker in this respect and takes a service fee to supplement non-legislative course provision and more importantly, the development of the much needed programmes required to address the skill shortages within the Inland Waterway, including the River Thames.