Hands-On Program: how Wilson Sons is preparing the professionals of tomorrow

Human capital management is a central pillar of any company’s strategy. The ability to attract, develop, and retain talent with forward-looking vision, technical proficiency, and adaptability has become a direct indicator of resilience and long-term sustainability.

At the epicenter of this transformation, the maritime and port sector — historically robust and traditional— faces the imperative to evolve. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) point to an imminent shortage of qualified professionals in several areas, from ship officers to naval engineers and specialists in port logistics and technology.

Against this backdrop, the Wilson Sons Internship Program stands out not as a mere recruitment process, but as a true talent-engineering initiative, meticulously designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the sector.

In this article, you will learn more about the program, its importance for the maritime and port industry, and the inspiring stories of transformation from selected interns. Stay tuned!

Talent management as a competitive advantage

The skills gap in the maritime and port labor market is a systemic challenge. Studies from the IMO and specialized consultancies project a shortage of officers and naval engineers, alongside a growing demand for professionals with cross-disciplinary skills in data analysis, automation, cybersecurity, and environmental management.

“The ability to anticipate market needs and invest in training professionals who think innovatively is what differentiates resilient organizations. At Wilson Sons, we aim to prepare professionals who can contribute to the sustainability of the entire sector.”

Aléa Fiszpan — HR and Communications Director

This strategic vision is translated into concrete actions across Wilson Sons’ business units. The Hands-On Project is one of the programs that demonstrates how the company actively invests to bridge the sector’s talent gap. A recent and inspiring example of this philosophy took place at Tecon Salvador.

Tecon Salvador welcomes new talent

In August this year, Wilson Sons welcomed 12 new interns from Senai Dendezeiros, who joined the Maintenance area through the Hands-On Project at Tecon Salvador, Bahia.

The onboarding process was carefully designed to make the young professionals feel part of the team from day one. Each received a special kit, including a project t-shirt and an inspiring welcome message, celebrating their arrival.

The event included the presence of leaders and supervisors, such as Manager Rodrigo Ribeiro, Coordinators Charles and Bruno, and Maintenance Supervisors, who shared their experiences and stories emphasizing the importance of internships for professional growth.

With the support of a dedicated and passionate teaching team, the new interns are beginning their journey ready to learn and truly get their hands on. Tecon Salvador believes the combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience is the key to developing outstanding professionals.

The program is meticulously designed to expose participants to the complex operational challenges of a terminal. By nature, the experience is multidisciplinary, preparing interns to understand the critical interconnections between different areas of the business — knowledge essential for strategic decision-making in leadership positions.

The ultimate goal is that, by the end of the program, interns will not only have technical expertise in their field but also a systemic view of the intricate value chain of international trade, from the inland producer to the final consumer in the global market.

Internships as a platform for operational excellence in port-city relations

The interface between port operations and the urban environment is a critical topic, involving economic, environmental, and social development. In strategic partnership with Wilson Sons, Senai Dendezeiros plays a vital role in training the next generation of maritime and port professionals in Bahia.

In this sense, the Hands-On Program makes an impact by prioritizing the recruitment of local talent, creating a virtuous cycle of training and retaining qualified labor within the communities where the company operates. This strategy aligns with the best practices of sustainable development, strengthening the local economy and promoting social inclusion, as reported in Wilson Sons’ Sustainability Report.

The collaboration between Senai Dendezeiros and Wilson Sons is a success model in professional training, showing how the close connection between educational institutions and the job market is essential to developing qualified human capital ready for the future challenges of the industry. It is at the institution that interns, through the Hands-On Project, deepen their knowledge in an environment that integrates theory with practice in an exemplary way.

“The port-city relationship must be strengthened. The port should be a driver of prosperity and a partner in building a more sustainable future for the community. This includes generating opportunities for talented young people living near the terminal and supporting them in entering the job market.”

Rosana Aguiar — Recruitment and Selection Coordinator

The program, which welcomed 12 new students into Tecon Salvador’s Maintenance area, demonstrates the technical school’s commitment to preparing talent aligned with market demands. By joining the terminal’s operations, the young professionals took a crucial step in applying classroom knowledge, complementing their education with hands-on experience at one of Brazil’s leading port operators.

In a world where the boundaries between physical and digital are dissolving, and where sustainability has become a decisive criterion for competitiveness, talent development can no longer be seen as a passive process. Wilson Sons’ internship program emerges as an active and strategic platform, designed to cultivate a new generation of professionals with the vision, skills, and values needed to lead the maritime-port sector toward a more resilient, innovative, and socially responsible future.

“I’m loving it. Everything I can learn here at Tecon Salvador, not just in maintenance but in other areas too, excites me a lot.”

Guilherme Pereira — Maintenance Intern

Would you also like to join our team of interns? Apply now:
https://wilsonsons.com.br/pt-br/carreiras/talentos-a-bordo/