The second edition of the Le Havre conference on innovative and forward-looking maritime, industrial and port-related careers took place from 22 to 24 February 2024 at the Carré des Docks. The aim was to raise awareness amongst Le Havre’s residents of the sector’s careers, training opportunities and innovations, which are often little known.

Numerous stakeholders from the sector were present to highlight their needs: logistics specialists, freight forwarders, manufacturers, stevedores, shipowners, training organisations… There remains a shortage of qualified staff for certain roles, notably customs declarants, maintenance technicians for material-handling equipment, and specialists in cybersecurity and IT systems.

This year’s event, aimed at young people seeking career guidance, adults looking to change careers, and the general public, highlighted the sector’s appeal in terms of innovation and the energy transition. This theme was explored through a variety of activities, including workshops, round-table discussions and informal discussions.

The opening ceremony

The opening ceremony took place on 22 February 2024, attended by Patrick LE CERF, patron of the event, Hervé BONIS, President of UMEP, and Jean-Baptiste GASTINNE, Vice-President of the Normandy Region, Vice-President of Le Havre Seine Métropole and First Deputy Mayor of Le Havre.

The patron

Patrick LE CERF was the driving force behind the first forum and agreed to be the patron of this second edition. In his view, the port, which was once accessible to the general public, has now “moved geographically away from the city and has been closed off for security reasons”. Recruitment must look to the future, and the needs are considerable, not just in Le Havre. Other employment areas in Normandy face recruitment challenges similar to those at the Port of Le Havre.

“There are many very diverse and accessible careers,” he adds. He categorises them into different areas: ships in port, navigation, port handling, cargo transfer, the environment and local area, and security. These are professions that are constantly evolving, transforming in line with new technologies such as AI, for example.

The Port of Le Havre benefits from having a young population seeking employment and training, companies offering a wide range of roles, and a very dense network of training organisations and specialist schools.

The Chair of the UMEP Education and Training Committee…

Karine LEROUX has succeeded Patrick LE CERF as Chair of the UMEP Education and Training Committee. In her view, the LH Port Days are “a forum for networking, exchanging ideas and looking ahead to what maritime transport and its entire supply chain will be like at the forefront of innovation and the energy transition”. “Many

 jobs do not yet exist, and therefore neither do the training programmes for those who will fill them.” “We have the expertise; it’s up to us to make it known!”

She regrets that these professions are not sufficiently valued, as is the case with logistics, which is often perceived as very demanding or highly exclusive. The UMEP’s Education and Training Commission is working to break down the barriers between the business world and the world of education, so that courses are aligned with the needs of professions that are constantly evolving. Karine LEROUX adds that companies must set up professional development pathways for work-study students, in

partnership with several training centres.

The figures…

LH PORT DAYS 2024 comprised:
– 80 organisations
represented– 7 sponsors and 15
partners– 350 secondary school pupils taking part in dedicated programmes–
9 round-table discussions and 37
speakers– 1 opening ceremony
– 1 awards ceremony for the ‘LE HAVRE: An Innovative Logistics City’ video competition and 2
winning teams– 237 downloads of the ‘LH PORT DAYS: The App’–
4,130 visitors

Innovation at the heart of the LH PORT DAYS 2024 exhibition!

UMEP commissioned students from La Manu to develop an app enabling school pupils to navigate the event, meet professionals and discover different careers by following themed tours. Second-year students from La Manu rose to the challenge brilliantly! Thanks to their work, the app – downloaded nearly 240 times – made the high school pupils’ trails even more fun.

Each trail consisted of stops at at least three exhibitors’ stands, with quizzes or mini-games at each stop offering the chance to win points. The top winners walked away with surprises prepared by UMEP and its partners. This full-scale trial proved a success; the app looks set for a bright future and is expected to evolve over time. Stay tuned for updates! Thanks again to the students and the teaching staff at La Manu!

A big thank you to everyone for making this second edition such a success!