The Port of Tilbury marks National Windrush Day 2022

Wednesday 22nd June 2022

On National Windrush Day, the Tilbury on the Thames Trust in partnership with the Port of Tilbury held a celebration in the London Cruise Terminal to mark the official day where 74 years ago on the 22 June, the port played a significant role for the Windrush generation as their arrival point into the UK from their long voyage on board the SS Empire Windrush.

This year, the Trust celebrated Windrush Day by bringing people by boat down the River Thames to the Port of Tilbury following the unveiling of the new Windrush monument at Waterloo Station. The Thames Clipper boats docked where the MV Empire Windrush came in on 22 June 1948, allowing a generation of people to move through the Cruise Terminal on Tilbury’s riverside to start a new life in the UK.

Guests on board the Thames Clipper included the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and the Bishop in Canterbury; actress Dona Croll; Alford Gardner and John Richards from the Windrush Foundation who were all treated to a lunch with onboard entertainment provided by Pegasus Opera, as guests were transported to The Port of Tilbury.

On arrival a local steel pan band welcomed passengers as they stepped ashore, with Windrush inspired poetry readings, displays, storytelling and Evewright’s Walkway of Memories to view before they boarded the clippers back for a relaxing for the boat trip back up the river to London.

The group were met by Thurrock Councils’s Cllr Coxshall and Paul Dale, Asset and Site Director from The Port of Tilbury. Paul Dale commented: “Today was a perfect celebration to mark National Windrush Day. Our historic London Cruise Terminal has played an important part in the community since it was built the 30s and we were pleased to be able to host this wonderful event with Thames Clippers to mark this year’s Windrush Day. Tilbury is proud of its connections with the Empire Windrush and we look forward to marking the 75th anniversary next year.”

 Tilbury on the Thames Trust was awarded funding to host the events and activities today. Communities Minister, Kemi Badenoch MP said: “The Windrush generation have had – and continue to have – a profound impact on Britain’s social, cultural and economic life and their legacy means so much to so many. As a first-generation immigrant myself, I understand personally how important it is to highlight how much we welcome and celebrate the contributions made by those who choose to make Britain home. I’m so pleased that our funding of events like The Port of Tilbury and others up and down the country, can help everyone remember the leading role the Windrush generation have played in the making of modern Britain”

 22 June 2022                                    -ends-

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Vision unveiled for a Forth Green Freeport to deliver Scotland’s green growth ambitions

Monday 20th June 2022

Forth Green Freeport will act as a catalyst for the re-industrialisation of Scotland, creating economic development for the whole of the country

  • Delivering a just transition to Scotland’s net zero targets
  • Potential to create 50,000 new green jobs
  • 550 hectares of development land
  • Local jobs in communities of high deprivation will support levelling up
  • A Skills Accelerator Fund focused on skills development for young people and harder to reach communities
  • Unlocking £6 billion of private and public investment into productive and resilient industries
  • Generating a £4 billion boost in GVA (Gross Value Add)
  • Built on a collaboration by committed partners who share the vision for a green growth corridor in the Forth Estuary. All partners are committed to the Fair Work principles and pay Real Living Wage.

A visionary bid for a Forth Green Freeport for Scotland which will re-industrialise the nation and create large scale economic development has been submitted today (20 June) by a public and private sector consortium led by Forth Ports Limited. The bid has the potential to generate 50,000 new green jobs and act as a catalyst for new green technologies and renewable energy manufacturing, unlocking £6 billion of private and public investment for Scotland.

A Forth Green Freeport will encourage global companies to continue to choose Scotland as a place to invest at scale through the economic incentives offered to businesses within the Green Freeport. The bid encompasses three key ports on the Forth (Grangemouth, Leith and Rosyth); industrial facilities and logistics centres along the north and south shores of the Firth of Forth; and Edinburgh Airport. Together they create an ambitious and attractive green investment zone which is focused on the Forth but will have a much broader impact across Scotland.

Led by Forth Ports, the bid consortium comprises both private and public organisations who together can deliver the bid’s vision, alongside leading further and higher education providers. The bid consortium include:

  • Babcock
  • Edinburgh Airport
  • Falkirk Council
  • Fife Council
  • INEOS
  • Scarborough Muir Group
  • The City of Edinburgh Council.

Scotland has 20 years to deliver national decarbonisation to achieve net zero by 2045 and a credible plan to reduce the current emissions intensity of the Forth is vital. Investment is required to reduce emissions across the country through innovations in offshore wind manufacturing, alongside biofuels and hydrogen manufacture. The Forth Green Freeport can drive growth in two major areas of advanced manufacturing: the manufacture of offshore wind turbines and the innovative shipbuilding and energy systems modular manufacturing at the Babcock sites in Rosyth which, together, will have a far-reaching positive impact across the whole of Scotland.

The bid’s partners are confident that a Forth Green Freeport can be the driving force of this plan and will deliver this radical transformation for the Firth of Forth and Scotland.

The bid identifies strategically located tax and customs sites, which span 550 hectares in Grangemouth, Leith, Rosyth, Burntisland and Edinburgh Airport. This will increase trade through Scotland’s sea and air gateways and support the growth of trading businesses across the Firth of Forth and at sites spread north, south and west of the estuary. These locations are the heart of Scotland’s international trade, with goods representing 30% of Scotland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) flowing through Grangemouth alone.

The sites are connected through excellent transport links, including five bridges (Kincardine Bridge, Clackmannanshire Bridge, Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge, and the iconic Forth Bridge), 138 rail routes, and motorways which link the three tax sites – Grangemouth, Rosyth, and Leith – with other strategically important areas in Scotland.

Charles Hammond OBE, Chief Executive of Forth Ports Group, said: “The Forth is Scotland’s most prized trading and industrial asset and a Forth Green Freeport enables Scotland to reduce emissions while creating technologies and jobs for the future. It will attract billions of investment for renewable offshore wind and hydrogen manufacture, enabling industrial decarbonisation and a reliable, clean energy supply with rapid distribution and export potential. Scotland has just over 20 years to deliver national decarbonisation and our bid provides an unmissable opportunity to deliver this in support of the country’s net zero ambitions.

 “Our vision is for the Forth Green Freeport to reindustrialise Scotland and spread the benefits of trade widely into the communities that need it the most, through the establishment of a green growth investment corridor creating 50,000 jobs in renewable energy, green manufacturing and alternative fuels. These jobs will not just be in Grangemouth, Leith and Rosyth, but in Glasgow and Edinburgh; the Lothians, Stirling and Falkirk; and Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy.

 “This is a true partnership of private and public sector organisations who share the vision for the Forth with a bid that will benefit the whole of Scotland. It will help establish the Forth as the key industrial site for supporting offshore wind deployment in the North Sea, then build on these strengths to service demand for renewable energy technologies in global markets.

 “Our team already has a track record of successfully delivering a freeport in England; we have unlocked large, undeveloped industrial sites; and we have credible investors lined up to deliver the innovation required for inclusive and sustainable growth in Scotland’s economy.”

The bid is supported by Falkirk Council, Fife Council and the City of Edinburgh Council who will all continue to play an integral part in the preparation of the Forth Green Freeport and, if successful, its eventual delivery.

Commenting on this Cllr Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council, said: “The Forth Green Freeport has the aims and objectives of regeneration, high-quality job creation, decarbonisation, a just transition, trade and investment, and innovation at its heart. It presents an opportunity for the governments to bring forward transformational change to the communities along the Firth of Forth. These are communities that have long felt the impact of carbon intensive industries and the decline of traditional industries, and we, along with our partners are committed to ensuring that this transformation occurs as a priority.”

 Cllr Altany Craik, Spokesperson – Finance, Economy & Strategic Planning, Fife Council said: “The work undertaken to date ensures that once more, Fife is being promoted as a prime investment location within Scotland. This is consistent with the work we continue to do within our local communities to realise regeneration and investment in our communities. I welcome that Rosyth, Burntisland and other strategic sites within the proposed Green Freeport outer boundary including Longannet, support the bid for this important economic designation. The areas identified provide scope for inward investors to locate and for existing businesses to expand or to diversify.  The outer boundary area identified to support the proposed Green Freeport sites provides within Fife, important links via the M90, A92 and Fife Circle rail network into Mid Fife. Highlighting this and aligning investment activity with the 2021 Mid Fife Economic Action Plan and Mid Fife Economic Prospectus will ensure that together, we maximise benefits from the prospective Forth Green Freeport designation.”

 Cammy Day, Council Leader, the City of Edinburgh Council said: “This is about pushing for sustainable, inclusive growth in the North of Edinburgh and our economy as a whole. Our long-term investment in the tram extension to Newhaven is already unlocking swathes of north Edinburgh for development and regeneration. Our £1.3 billion green regeneration of Granton is creating a brand new waterfront community and cultural hub, with jobs and thousands of net zero homes.

 “If a Green Freeport to Leith and a customs site at the airport are brought forward, we will continue to work to make sure North Edinburgh benefits from a whole East to West corridor of net zero economic growth. We want to see this deliver transformative change for local communities with a strategy that substantially drives forward our net zero ambitions while providing pathways into work and learning for disadvantaged young people from the area. Fair work and fair opportunities are central to this bid and it is important that they continue to be central to delivery.

 “I am committed to the Council continuing to play an active and supportive role if the bid is successful. Let’s work together to propel the Firth of Forth into a global hub of innovation, renewable technology and high-quality job creation which helps us tackle our city’s poverty challenge as well as the climate crisis.”

About the Strategic sites of the Forth Green Freeports bid:

Grangemouth

  • The Port of Grangemouth, Scotland’s largest port and principal export hub (handling 30% of Scottish GDP) and is home to its major petrochemical cluster. The INEOS Grangemouth site has a long-standing track record of strength in petrochemicals.
  • Grangemouth is Scotland’s busiest port, with the shortest direct freight link to Europe, handling 9m tonnes of global cargo every year. The Grangemouth tax site includes 226 hectares of under-developed land which will help to transform the port into a major logistics, manufacturing, renewable energy hub and R&D centre for the Scottish and UK economies.

 Leith

  • At the Port of Leith, Forth Ports has already started work on a £50 million investment in nation’s largest offshore renewable energy hub alongside energy giant, bp and EnBW. The Leith tax site features 167 hectares of Forth Ports-owned, under-developed land. The tax incentives will support the redevelopment of the current port structure into the Leith Renewables Hub: an offshore wind manufacturing and marshalling site; supported by a cluster of offshore wind SMEs and a start-up incubator.

 Rosyth

  • The Port of Rosyth, Scotland’s largest agri bulks hub, has the capacity to expand and create new trade routes to continental Europe. The Rosyth site comprises 168 hectares of underdeveloped land from landowners Forth Ports, Babcock and Scarborough Muir Group. The tax incentives will support Rosyth to become a hub for innovation in advanced modular manufacturing in offshore wind, shipbuilding and energy systems.

 Burntisland

  • 19 hectares of land at Burntisland on the northern bank of the Forth Estuary has been ringfenced for designation as a customs site, extending the Leith Renewables Hub across the north and south shores of the estuary. This marks a deliberate ‘twinning’ of the Leith and Burntisland Forth Green Freeport propositions and supports the intra-authority nature of this bid. Together, this creates the largest offshore wind development area in Scotland.

 Edinburgh Airport

  • A 13 hectares customs zone at Edinburgh Airport’s Global Air Park is designated for air-related logistics and warehousing expansion targeted at the growth markets of e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and perishables. Edinburgh Airport is the largest freight handling airport in Scotland and the largest mail handler, managing 50% of all the nation’s air mail. Edinburgh Airport is an ideal location for growing trade with the USA due to shorter flight distances.

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Port of Tilbury hosts community Open Day on Saturday 25th June 2022

Tuesday 14th June 2022

After a gap of more than two years due to the global pandemic, the team at Port of Tilbury announce that the port will open its doors for a community Open Day and celebration on Saturday 25 June 2022 from 11am until 5pm at the London Cruise Terminal and everyone is invited.

The FREE programme of events for all the family will run throughout the day and will include:

  • Vintage bus tours of the port;
  • Historical walking tours of the cruise terminal;
  • Dance and singing performance by Singing our Lives;
  • Port of Tilbury Police activities;
  • Beat the goalie, face painting and kids carnival rides;
  • Windrush exhibition;
  • Café and heritage displays

As part of the day, a section of Her Majesty’s Jubilee Pageant parade will come to Tilbury for a Thank you Dance procession through the town starting at 1pm in Anchor Fields Park. The parade will move through the streets with over 200 performers carrying colourful hand painted silk flags designed by local communities in Tilbury, Grays, Purfleet-on-Thames and Milton Keynes. The parade will arrive at the London Cruise Terminal at 230pm for a performance finale. [NB: event flyers attached with this release for more info]

Paul Dale, Asset and Site Director from The Port of Tilbury said: “It is wonderful to be able to welcome the local community, our port team and their families back into The Port of Tilbury on Saturday 25th June. We always enjoy hosting community events at the port and on the 25th June we get the chance to let people inside the port and enjoy a day together. There are a lot of activities planned which will suit all ages and I hope that everyone is able to come along and join us.”

 Stuart Wallace, Chair of Tilbury on the Thames Trust said: “It will be fantastic to see the Thank You Dance parade on the 25th June in Tilbury. The flags were created for the brilliant 2019 carnival and it was a special moment to see them and their flagbearers as part of Her Majesty’s Jubilee Pageant in London recently. The performances on the day are a fitting thank you to our key workers and all those who give their time to help the local communities, particularly during the challenges of the past few years. I hope everyone enjoys the parade and the Open Day at the port.”

 

14 June 2022                                              -ends-

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Forth Ports unveils plans for new waterfront development in Leith

Thursday 26th May 2022

Forth Ports has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to The City of Edinburgh Council for Harbour 31, an exciting mixed-use development on a 10-acre waterfront site at Leith.

The development has the aspiration to create a vibrant new neighbourhood for Leith. The plans for the waterside location include: 700 – 800 residential apartments, a hotel, local retail, flexible workspaces and offices and leisure facilities. The site sits on a dockside location and fits well with the Council’s Local Development Plan as being housing-led, mixed use development.

The development will see the regeneration of land adjacent to the newly opened FirstStage Studios, providing a place to live and work, for both creative and green jobs, as the Port of Leith transitions to become Scotland’s premier renewables hub. The site will also benefit from the new tram extension due to open in mid-2023.

Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer of landowners Forth Ports Group, said:

“At Harbour 31 we plan to create a vibrant new quarter to live and work, as new creative and green jobs come to Leith. With the option to walk to work or an easy tram ride into the city centre, this new neighbourhood will be a focal point of Leith’s continued regeneration.”

An online public consultation will take place on 23 June 2022 from 3.00pm – 7.00pm via www.harbour31.com, where further details of the proposed development can be found.

Following the outcome of the public consultation, a full planning application will be submitted.

 26 May 2022                                     – ends –

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Capital Cruising hosts prestigious European Cruise event in Edinburgh

Tuesday 17th May 2022

Nearly 200 cruise executives from around the world are arriving in Edinburgh this week as the prestigious Cruise Europe Conference gets underway in Scotland.

Originally planned for March 2020 but delayed due to the global pandemic, this three-day in-person event, is being held in venues across the Capital and is the largest and best attended cruise event ever to be held in Edinburgh.

Forth Ports’ cruise business, Capital Cruising, is hosting the event which gives Edinburgh the chance to showcase the unique attractions of the beautiful UNESCO city to an influential cruise audience.

Scotland is a major draw for the cruise market, Edinburgh in particular is a ‘must-see’. The cruise business is an important economic boost for Scotland and the local areas where the liners call, with many local businesses and attractions benefitting from the tourism spend.

Event host, Rob Mason, Head of Cruise for Capital Cruising in Scotland said: “We are thrilled to host the Cruise Europe Cruise Conference this week. It is important for Edinburgh and Scotland’s cruise market as we are set to welcome 200 of the world’s important players in the cruise sector to the City. After a challenging two years for the cruise industry during the pandemic, this is a great opportunity for the cruise industry to come together.

The cruise season in Scotland has restarted – Scotland is open for cruise – and is well underway and across all our ports we are expecting to welcome over 100 cruise vessels across our Scottish ports and anchorages this year which is encouraging news as people return to cruise.”

Commenting on the event, Jens Skrede, Managing Director of Cruise Europe said: “We always look out for marquee cities and ports for our annual highlight, and Edinburgh certainly ticks all the boxes. Despite the pandemic, we have a record number of delegates attending from our members and cruise line executive decision makers. We are really looking forward to the Cruise Europe Conference in this historic and vibrant city.”

Capital Cruising runs seven busy cruise terminals and anchorages across the UK and is the only port operator to offer unrivalled direct access to Edinburgh for cruise passengers.  With ports in Leith, Rosyth and anchorages at Newhaven and South Queensferry, passengers are within easy reach of the famous attractions in Edinburgh.

17 May 2022                                      – ends –

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The Port of Rosyth’s Agri-hub reaches 1million tonnes milestone

Wednesday 4th May 2022

Scotland’s largest agricultural products hub (“agri-hub”) at the Port of Rosyth has reached a milestone of handling 1 million tonnes of product for Cefetra.

The Agri-Hub, which opened in early 2020, handles an extensive range of important agricultural products for Scottish animal feed, food and drink and farming industries. The port has been fully open and operational throughout the global pandemic with the port’s key workers handling these essential products.

The location and facilities at the Agri-Hub on the Firth of Forth ensure an efficient supply chain as cargo can be shipped directly from many origins from all around the World to Scotland without the need for trans-shipments at a European port. This also means there is a reduction in truck road miles as the hub is located centrally in Scotland for many farmers and food manufacturers.

Commenting on the news, Andy Lamb, Deputy Port Manager at the Port of Rosyth said: “Our Agri Hub in Rosyth is a success story. Over the past two years, our team have handled 1million tonnes of agri product for our partner Cefetra. We have shown resilience during a very challenging time for the port and our team have worked hard to ensure that the supplies reach the key farming and food market.”

 Andrew Mackay, Managing Director at Cefetra Ltd, said: “We are extremely pleased with how the Agri hub is working and the cooperation we have had with Forth Ports in this enterprise. The facility helps us supply the Scottish market with key raw materials that the Feed, Food and Drink Industries require to be imported.

 “In addition, we have worked for Scottish farmers, to develop new, interesting export markets for grains and oilseeds that we have loaded out from Rosyth. Reaching the landmark figure of 1 million tonnes of throughput in such a short period of time from the opening is a testament to all involved.”

 Rosyth’s location and logistical links to the motorway network, make it ideally suited to supply all areas of Scotland and Northern England. The port has both deep sea and short sea capabilities. To create the agri-hub in 2020, the Port of Rosyth was deepened to provide a true deep-water port capable of taking vessels carrying up to 50,000 tonnes of cargo. The port’s existing storage facilities have been significantly extended with the addition of a new 200,000sq.ft. purpose built agricultural products terminal, increasing the port’s storage capacity to around 100,000 tonnes.

 The port invested in a new Liebherr mobile harbour crane for bulk handling capability and to manage dust emissions, a SAMSON ecological hopper is also in place at the port. The eco hopper is the first of its kind in the UK and forms a key component of the new agri-bulk hub facility.

4 May 2022                           – ENDS –

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Construction to start on next phase of Western Harbour housing development

Tuesday 26th April 2022

The Western Harbour housing development in Leith has taken a significant step forward with the news that CCG Group, one of Scotland’s largest privately-owned construction and manufacturing companies, has committed to developing the first phase of a 938-home, ambitious development.

A total of 118 homes for private sale are set to be delivered with construction starting in summer 2022 and completion phased over the first six months of 2024. The homes will be a mix of one, two and three bedrooms, next to the Harbour Point & Gateway development by Forth Ports and Rettie & Co, completed in 2019, and will be released to the market by CCG’s own private housing company, CCG Homes Ltd.

The development is adjacent to the recently completed Victoria Primary School and Nursery and will benefit from the soon to completed Tram terminal.

Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer of landowners Forth Ports Group, said:

Today’s news marks an important next chapter in the development of Western Harbour and I am very pleased that CCG are bringing these much needed sustainably built homes to Leith. In parallel the Port of Leith is transitioning to be Scotland’s premier renewables hub, with new green jobs and skills, as we re-industrialise this historic and important part of Scotland.”

David Wylie, Managing Director of CCG Group, said:

“I am delighted that CCG has secured Western Harbour in what will be a fantastic new development of low carbon homes in Newhaven. The extent of regeneration in the district and the wider area of Granton is significant and we are playing a key role in its delivery with over 900 mixed-tenure homes set to be created to a low carbon or net zero standard over the next four years.

“The private housing arm of our group, CCG Homes, has very successfully sold over 200 homes in Glasgow & the west since 2019 so to be able to grow the company’s portfolio in the city of Edinburgh presents an exciting opportunity for CCG Homes and the wider Group and I look forward to works commencing on-site this summer.”

Matthew Benson, Director of Rettie & Co Limited said:

It’s fantastic news that a developer of the strength and calibre of CCG is coming to Western Harbour. The homes they will deliver can only add to the quality of what is already a sought-after location.”

26 April 2022                                               – ends –

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Tilbury’s Grain Terminal team receives partnership award from Essex County Fire & Rescue

Friday 22nd April 2022

The Port of Tilbury have received an award from the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) for the collaborative role the port team played in supporting the Fire teams during a large and challenging fire at the grain terminal in July 2020.

The large fire had to be managed over a number of days and required firefighters to work collaboratively with port engineers and other advisors to monitor the scene and to minimise the impact the incident had on the grain site.

Commenting at the award presentation ECFRS Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Moira Bruin said: “This was one of the most challenging incidents our Service had faced in recent years. Resolving this incident successfully only happened because of the great partnership work, and despite being under pressure, we worked together to find innovative solutions. We wanted to recognise the support, ingenuity, bravery and open engagement of the grain terminal management and staff and were delighted to present them with this award and invite them to part of our own celebration event.”

The fire damaged the silo tower and some other equipment but no one was injured.

Major building works are well underway with construction of ten new giant metal grain silos now complete. The ten 30 metres tall silos have a total combined capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes. Work is now underway to replace the concrete silos for a return to full operations in 2023, restoring the original storage capacity.

Peter Ward, Commercial Director at The Port of Tilbury said: “We are honoured to receive this award which recognises the collaborative role the team at the port played during this major incident at the grain terminal.

 “I am proud of how the team handled this situation as they worked closely with the Fire and Rescue Service during this difficult and challenging period. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank not only the grain terminal team, but Essex County Fire and Rescue Service for its professional response and commitment both during and after the fire.

 “The terminal is a vital facility in the South-East of England and an essential part of the UK agricultural supply chain for imports and exports and we made sure that there was no interruption to our service throughout.”

The Tilbury Grain terminal has been in operation for over 50 years and is a key strategic facility in the South-East of the UK for the grain import and export markets handling over 2million tonnes of product from around the world. Grain is a key commodity in the UK food supply chain for a number of uses, most notably within the flour milling and bakery industries.

Once fully rebuilt, the terminal will be restored to its full storage capacity of 135,000 m/t and continue to benefit from the full multimodal services at the port including river barge transportation into central London. The terminal also operates a monthly coastal shipping service from Tilbury to its sister port in Kirkcaldy, Scotland for Carr’s Milling.

22 April 2022                       -ends-

 

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Forth Ports Kickstarts a New Career for Young Trainee

Tuesday 12th April 2022

Forth Ports welcomes it newest Operations Administrator to the Port of Grangemouth following her successful Kickstart traineeship. Louise Logan from Falkirk took part in a paid six-month traineeship last year which was part of the Government’s Kickstart work programme to help out-of-work 16 to 24 year-olds improve their career prospects, by learning new skills in a real working environment.

Before the Kickstart programme Louise was looking for a job after completing a college course and took up the Kickstart placement offer to boost her career opportunities. Following a successful six months, Louise was offered a permanent position as an Operations Administrator working at The Port of Grangemouth’s busy container terminal. Her new role includes ensuring that all the container traffic through the port flows as efficiently as possible, helping haulage drivers with their enquiries and ensuring the right containers get released to the correct customers.

Commenting on her new role Louise Logan said: “I have learned and gained experience in a field I had not previously considered while earning a full-time wage.  I have also been in contact with my work coach from DWP throughout the programme who has checked how I am getting on.  I am really pleased to have been offered a full-time role at the Port and I am really enjoying it.”

Michelle Primrose, Group HR Manager at Forth Ports said: “Our congratulations to Louise on her new full-time role with the container operations team following her successful Kickstart traineeship. During the pandemic it was not an easy time for young people looking to start a career and we saw the Kickstart scheme as an ideal way of developing the young workforce of the future.

“Forth Ports has a long and proud tradition of investing in young people including our apprenticeship programme which has trained and recruited almost a hundred apprentices across the Group covering engineering, operations, finance and Health & Safety, with many of those apprentices going on to have a fulfilling career in the Forth Ports business.”

Gill Jardine, Senior Customer Service Leader for DWP East Scotland said: “DWP are happy to hear that our partnership with Forth Ports has resulted in offering our young customer Louise Logan a permanent post following her successful Kickstart placement last year.”

Louise’s work coach at Falkirk Jobcentre, Anne Thomson, said: “I am so pleased for Louise. When she came to me last year she was looking for a role in hospitality or retail. Looking at Louise’s CV, I told her she had great qualifications and was selling herself short and should consider some admin roles. I worked with her to build her confidence and supported her to apply for the Forth Ports role. We got great feedback after her interview with Forth Ports and she was then offered a six month Kickstart placement. I am absolutely delighted to hear that she has now been offered a permanent post.” 

There are many career opportunities at Forth Ports across the Group. For more information go here: forthports.co.uk/careers

 

22 April 2022                                                                      Ends

 

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