In an enlightened initiative to help youngsters become educated, a popular yachting stopover port has announced a new £3,000 a year bursary scheme for local youths.

The Port of Dover’s scheme hopes to encourage local students to take up study at University in a port-related field with a long term view of them gaining employment at the leading ferry port. Such courses could range from degrees in economics and business management through to civil engineering, mechanical engineering, marine technology and marine engineering.
 
If you are a student aged between 16-24 years, living within the post code bands CT14 to CT17, entering full time study in September 2014, studying a relevant degree course and are prepared to undertake a work placement with the Port during your study, then this could be for you!
 
Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “The appeal of our apprenticeship scheme has demonstrated the real interest and enthusiasm for the Port in our local young people. We now feel it is the right time to make a further commitment to ensuring that the future success of the Port is driven by local people. We want Dover’s children to be the next generation of Dover’s stars and so commit to supporting this with our new bursary scheme.”
 
The Port will also provide students with paid work placements during or following the period of their study (including a summer work placement for a minimum of 8 weeks) to a maximum of one year.
 
Matthew Bartlett, Headteacher, Dover Grammar School for Girls, said: “As the major employer in Dover, the Port’s support for local students is invaluable both in expanding their career prospects and for the longer term renewal of Dover as it helps to keep the talent which our school develops in the area.”