Thames Skills Academy
A port-wide CPD programme for the tidal Thames
SwiftTrack worked with the Thames Skills Academy to build the first port-wide Continuing Professional Development programme for Masters and navigational crew on the tidal Thames.
1The challenge
From 1 January 2024, every Master in command of an Intra-port Commercial Vessel on the tidal Thames was required to take part in the Thames CPD Programme, regulated by the Port of London Authority (PLA) through General Direction no. 34. The programme is administered by the Thames Skills Academy and supported by the Company of Watermen & Lightermen.
The programme sets a clear expectation: participants must achieve a minimum of 10 CPD points every year and at least 150 points across a five-year cycle. Points are drawn from three categories: Mandatory Courses (first aid, firefighting and personal survival), Accredited Training and Skills & Experience activities.
Designing a programme of this scale, spanning multiple employers, training providers and a regulator, required a system that could track and document skills and knowledge formally and informally, keep evidence together against clear requirements, and give administrators and the regulator a shared, dependable view of who was participating and how far they had progressed.
2The solution
SwiftTrack worked alongside the Thames Skills Academy, the PLA and the Company of Watermen & Lightermen to build Thames CPD on a connected platform for competence management, CPD and ePortfolio.
Participants enrol online and build a personal CPD record against the three programme categories. Mandatory Courses, Accredited Training and Skills & Experience activities are all captured in one place, with certificates and supporting evidence linked to the relevant requirements. As points are recorded, the platform calculates progress towards the annual minimum of 10 points and the 150-point five-year cycle.
Because the programme spans a regulator, an administrator and a supporting body, SwiftTrack connects them through a shared record. The PLA can evidence participation against General Direction no. 34, the Thames Skills Academy can administer enrolments and review progress, and the Company of Watermen & Lightermen can support the workforce they represent.
Built on SwiftTrack's offline and mobile working capability, the platform supports Masters and crew who are often afloat or between ports, so recording CPD does not depend on a reliable connection. The result is a programme that improves safety on the Thames by helping everyone maintain and refresh current skills and learn new skills as the industry changes.
The outcomes
- A single CPD record: Mandatory, Accredited and Skills & Experience activities are captured in one record against the programme's three categories.
- Points and cycles tracked: The platform tracks progress towards the 10-point annual minimum and the 150-point five-year cycle automatically.
- Shared oversight: The PLA, Thames Skills Academy and the Company of Watermen & Lightermen work from a connected record, supporting regulation and administration.
- Evidence linked to requirements: Certificates and supporting evidence are kept together against the relevant CPD requirements for audit and review.
- Working afloat: Offline and mobile capture lets Masters and crew record CPD without depending on a stable connection.
Looking ahead
Thames CPD is the first port-wide programme of its kind, and it gives the partners a connected foundation as the river continues to change. With the first five-year cycle running to 31 December 2028, SwiftTrack supports the programme's aim of a busier, cleaner and healthier river underpinned by a skilled workforce.
Testimonial
SwiftTrack have been and continue to be supportive of continually developing the product to improve the user experience and ensure the product meets future needs.
The TSA has been working with SwiftTrack for the past three years on the development of an Application (web-based and mobile App) for registering CPD points for the Thames CPD Programme.
The product has been built from conception to full implementation, with over 600 users. It is easy to use for managers and administrators and importantly can be accessed by its users in a straightforward way to record their CPD activities.
Managers and administrators can support users and where they are not able to deal with it, this can be escalated back to SwiftTrack.
