"We want to make a difference with our people,” says Geeske Steeneken, L&D lead at Chane. That is why Chane is fully committed to developing its employees by offering an in-house MBO program for Operator A, B and C. It is the first in-house MBO program in the bulk terminal world, and aims to help employees grow, share knowledge and prepare them for managerial positions. 

The course is tailored to Chane’s specific working environment. Instead of obtaining their degree at a regular MBO institution, Chane offers employees the opportunity to do so in-house, with additional focus on how the company works. “We have collaborated with Litop to develop our own training that specifically matches our own terminals. One of our core values is ‘Keep learning’ and this is one of the ways we are putting that into practice,” Geeske explains.

Theory and practice 

Bas Davids, commissioning supervisor, was one of the first students in the Operator C program: “I chose this because I want to expand my knowledge further, refresh my existing skills and keep developing myself.” The program is designed so that the teaching material can be put straight into practice. “Once every fortnight there is a class day where we review the theory under the guidance of an external instructor. Then we go to the terminal and put our knowledge into practice.”

Ownership and leadership 

This Operator C course goes one step further. Employees have to do research at MBO-4 level and write a thesis on actual cases that occur at the terminals. This requires some investment of their own time for online individual study and assignments. Bas and his fellow students are also mentored by Chane’s own experts on the terminal. “It is great to see how much enthusiasm there is to share knowledge,” Geeske says. 

Mark of quality

“We want to become a household name in the terminal world,” says Geeske. “Not only by training the best talent, but also by focusing on their future and ensuring their development now and later.” The company hopes that the training program will serve as a mark of quality, with the diploma being a sign of knowledge and skill. Bas: “It is very nice that Chane encourages my growth and gives me room to study.” Geeske: “At Chane, we are constantly learning from each other. We challenge each other to be our best selves, because that’s how Chane stays relevant and can continue to grow.”