Forth Ports Limited
Apprentice Marine Services Crew
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Job Description
Location: Hawes Pier, South Queensferry
Job Title: Apprentice Marine Services Crew
Compensation: £17,000
Start Date: August 2026
FIND YOUR FUTURE AT FORTH PORTS
At Forth Ports, we keep trade, logistics, and infrastructure moving. Our emerging talent roles are central to this mission, developing the skills that power our economy and connect communities across the country.
Targe Towing, who are part of Forth Ports, provide Harbour and Terminal towage, and associated marine services, specialising in supporting vessel movements associated with the offshore wind industry and other complex towage projects.
Joining our apprenticeship programme means gaining hands-on experience in a dynamic, forward-thinking environment, while developing skills that matter for life and career. You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact, helping businesses thrive, supporting the smooth operation of our ports, and contributing to projects that shape the UK’s infrastructure and renewable energy future. With our commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2032 and Net Zero by 2042, we’re investing heavily in sustainable and digital technologies including major growth in offshore wind and greener port operations. For you, this means joining a business that’s evolving, ambitious, and making a real difference.
At Forth Ports, our people are at the core of everything that we do and we are proud of our Gold accredited membership of The 5% Club, a milestone recognising our long-term commitment to developing emerging talent across the business. As we continue to invest through high-quality “earn and learn” opportunities, whether you’re starting out, changing direction or returning after time away, we’d love to hear from you.
About The Role
We’re offering individuals the opportunity to develop their skills and progress their careers through our Marine Services Crew apprenticeship. Over two years, you’ll gain practical experience, build specialist knowledge, and work towards a recognised qualification, Maritime Occupations at SCQF Level 5, and complete an SVQ in Port Operations.
We will hold interviews for this role on in March at Hawes Pier in South Queensferry where you will have the chance to meet some of the team and to find out more about the role and the apprenticeship. We will be in touch before then to let you know if you have been selected to attend.
What You Will Learn
As a Marine Services Crew apprentice with Targe Towing Ltd, you will gain hands-on experience working across the company’s Marine Services vessels, including SKUA, CORMORANT, GANNET and FOWLER. You will develop practical skills in small boat handling, mooring line operations, and securing vessels to piers and buoys, while learning the importance of safe and efficient marine operations. The apprenticeship will also train you in routine planned maintenance, vessel husbandry and housekeeping, and weather monitoring to support day-to-day operations. You will actively participate in emergency drills and exercises, building confidence in safety procedures and teamwork at sea. In addition, you will complete commercially endorsed training, including the Advanced Powerboat Level 2 qualification, providing a strong foundation for a career in the marine industry.
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What can we offer you?
- Structured learning and development pathway linked to your personal and professional growth, supporting long-term career progression
- Competitive starting salary with regular reviews to recognise your performance and development
- Discretionary group bonus
- Generous annual leave entitlement of 34 days including bank holidays
- Defined contribution pension scheme with up to 16.5% joint contribution plus life assurance at 4x salary
- Health promotion events and employee wellbeing initiatives to support your physical and mental wellbeing
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providing free, confidential 24/7 telephone support for you and your family
- On-site Occupational Health Team with access to professional support and referrals to services such as counselling, physiotherapy and free flu jabs
- An annual Christmas thank you gift of a complimentary turkey or meat-free alternative for all employees
- GymFlex health club memberships offering discounted access to gyms including Nuffield Health, PureGym, Anytime Fitness, The Gym Group, and selected local gyms
- Cycle to Work scheme to support affordable, sustainable commuting
- On-site free parking available for all employees
- Attractive family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity cover
- Employee discount platform providing savings on UK-wide restaurants, retail, car rentals, days out, and holidays
What are we looking for?
- Candidates who are keen to learn, happy to work as part of a team and eager to make a positive impact to the overall operations
- Applicants will require National 5 English, Maths and a science subject (preferably Physics) at Grade A-C
- Individuals who are able to demonstrate a genuine interest in the work that we do at the port, and are looking to build valuable skills for your future career
- Full UK working rights
- Full driving licence, valid in the UK
We welcome applications from candidates of all ages to apply, but please note due to the nature of our work, we do require all candidates to be a minimum of 18 years of age.
We value diversity & inclusivity and we are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and will consider all applications for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.
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What is the Application Process?
- Application: Apply via the link on our vacancies page with your updated CV and cover letter detailing your interest in the position. Please note the deadline for applications is Tuesday 21st July 2026. We may close this vacancy earlier than advertised if we receive a large number of applications, so please apply early to avoid missing out.
- Screening call: If your application is of interest, our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch for an initial discussion, answer any questions that you may have and invite you to the assessment centre.
- Confirmation email: We will share an email to confirm what to expect at the assessment centre, anything that you need to prepare and what to bring on the day.
- Interview: You meet the team and get a great feel for why Forth Ports is for you! This will take place in March.
We recognise that assessment centres may not be the best fit for everyone, so we are committed to offering alternative recruitment methods to ensure a fair and
Skills Needed
About The Company
Over our 50 years of experience we have witnessed our ports grow to become important assets to support and deliver growth both for the UK and local economies. The growth impact has been achieved due to the continued investments in our infrastructure, making sure that our ports are able to continually develop their services and support the growth of many industries. Our people have played a significant role. They have delivered the highest quality of service through their expertise, loyalty and flexibility and, without them, we could not have built the strong reputation and the long term agreements with many customers that we have today.
Company Culture
Welcome to Forth Ports Careers. As a leading port operator, we employ over 1,100 people across our ports in Scotland and the Port of Tilbury in London. A career in a port business is very rewarding. There is real variety within each role and significant opportunities for promotion and career development. Don’t just take our word for it; view the “Some of our People” section and the video below to gain insight into the kinds of jobs our employees do, how they’ve grown with us, and what motivates them each day. The port business can be seen as a barometer for the economy and this drives us to be adaptable and fast paced as we identify new business opportunities.
Required Criteria
- Applicants will require National 5 English, Maths and a science subject (preferably Physics) at Grade A-C
- Full UK working rights
- Full driving licence, valid in the UK
Desired Criteria
- Closing Date: Tuesday 21st July, 2026
- Contract Type: fulltime
- Salary: £17,000.00 Yearly
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