Hundreds attend London International Cruise Terminal Community Festive Fair

Tuesday 21st November 2023

As Christmas fast approaches, the London International Cruise Terminal in Tilbury held its Christmas Fair for the community at the weekend (19 November). The event, which is in its third year, has grown from strength to strength showcasing the talents of over 50 stall holders, each contributing to the festive atmosphere with an array of beautifully handcrafted items.

The Christmas Fair is well supported by local crafters, with many of the stall holders based in the Thurrock area. The hundreds of visitors who came along were treated to a treasure trove of handcrafted gifts, from exquisite decorations to unique, locally made items. The fair not only provides a platform for these talented crafters but also fosters a sense of community pride in supporting local businesses.

The Tilbury Riverside project added to the holiday cheer serving complimentary coffee, tea, sherry and of course mince pies. The atmosphere was very jolly with hundreds of local people coming along to catch up and enjoy the festivities.

Paul Dale, Asset and Site Director from the Port of Tilbury said: “The Christmas fair raised over £1500 which will benefit both the Tilbury Riverside Project and St Luke’s Hospice. This fantastic achievement reflects the power of community, kindness and the shared commitment of making a positive impact in our local area.

“This year’s fair went beyond the joy of gift-giving, it embraced the spirit of giving back to the community. The raffle for St Luke’s Hospice proved to be a resounding success. It was fantastic to see the generosity and the enthusiasm people had for supporting a local cause.”

The London International Cruise Terminal proved to be an ideal venue for this festive gathering and The Port of Tilbury are already setting their sights on expanding the event even further next year. With the overwhelming support from the community and the success of the fair in its third year, they hope to make it an even more integral part of the Christmas season in Tilbury.

St Luke’s Hospice is a local charity dedicated to providing compassionate care and support for individuals facing life-limiting illnesses and their families. The success of the Christmas Fair’s charity raffle contributes directly to the vital services offered by St Luke’s Hospice in the Thurrock area.

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Port of Tilbury hosts The National Lottery to reveal HMT Empire Windrush sculpture

Wednesday 1st November 2023

On the 30th October we had the honour of hosting the National Lottery to showcase their new HMT Empire Windrush wireframe structure created to celebrate Black History Month and Windrush 75.

The National Lottery raises more than £30 million every week for great causes across the UK, and this year, awarded £1.2 million of this to 140 community groups commemorating Windrush 75. This month they celebrated with a showcase of a wireframe recreation of HMT Empire Windrush right where Windrush arrived at the Port of Tilbury.

The structure which is called ‘The Life We Hold’ was created by Liam Hopkins of Lazerian Studios, in collaboration with abstract artist and creative designer Jade Pearl. The design incorporates portraits of five individuals who have been able to do amazing things for the Windrush generation with funding from The National Lottery.

The team at The Port of Tilbury were privileged to host this event with singer and presenter Scarlette Douglas revealing the amazing structure on our docks, alongside representatives from the various beneficiaries of the National Lottery Funding.

This year we have pulled out all the stops to recongise the 75th anniversary of Windrush and we continue to support anyone who wishes to do so.

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Thames Freeport launches commercially with film on business, logistical and environmental benefits

Monday 6th September 2021

Thames Freeport will formally open for business this month, marked by the launch of a new film which brings to life the benefits of locating in the new economic zone at the heart of Europe’s biggest consumer market.

The film (link), produced by Cat and Weasel Films working with director Joshan Esfandiari Martin, cinematically showcases all the elements Thames Freeport offers to allow businesses locating there to take their performance up to the next level.

No location can match Thames Freeport for access to rail, road, river and international maritime routes. Comprising Britain’s most globally connected ports and logistics park and Ford’s world-class engine plant, Thames Freeport represents a faster, more cost-effective, and more environmentally responsible way to service domestic and European markets.

Stuart Wallace, Chief Operating Officer at Forth Ports (owner of the Port of Tilbury and Tilbury2), said: “The formal commercial launch of Thames Freeport is a major milestone for our partner organisations who have between them invested over £2.5 billion in port and logistics infrastructure over the past 10 years, with over £3 billion of further investment planned. The UK’s largest freight ferry terminal was completed in record time and opened last year at Tilbury2, demonstrating the partners’ commitment and ability to deliver at pace.”

Alan Shaoul, Chief Financial Officer at DP World in the UK (owner of the port and logistics park at London Gateway), said: “Thames Freeport offers outstanding financial incentives, potentially the equivalent of up to 50 per cent of the cost of the real estate over five years. These include no stamp duty on land purchases, savings on employer national insurance contributions, a five year business rates holiday and generous capital allowances on investment.  The flexibility within the freeport’s customs zone will also help manage non-tariff barriers, supporting businesses trading with the EU and the rest of the world.”

Martin Everitt, Plant Manager at Ford UK in Dagenham, said: “We are proud to partner with Thurrock Council – which is consistently ranked in the top five per cent of Local Planning Authorities for speed in dealing with applications – and with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham, where Ford Dagenham is located. Both authorities share our vision for turbo-charging a high-tech industrial base along the Thames Estuary, with new employment opportunities and investment in skills and life-long learning.”

Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive at the Port of London Authority, said: “Through the Port of London Authority, the tidal Thames connects all freeport sites to the consumer markets of London and the South East, creating the infrastructure for an innovative and green trading corridor. We are determined to play a leading role in the journey to net zero.”

Thames Freeport’s formal commercial launch will take place at an event at The Savoy Hotel, London, in the presence of a senior cabinet minister on Wednesday 15th September.

The Thames Freeport partners are progressing the business case with the Government, with a view to receiving formal accreditation this year.

See the Thames Freeport website / Twitter / LinkedIn pages for more information.

 

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New logistics training opportunity for unemployed local Tilbury residents

Thursday 18th March 2021

The Port of Tilbury, London’s fastest growing port, is launching a new training programme, called Routes to Logistics, with opportunities for over 200 local residents who are currently unemployed.

The fully funded programme will run an introductory training course of up to three days focussing on working in the transport and logistics industry with the aim of building people’s career aspirations and developing follow on support and training, tailored to the individual to help them get back into the workplace.

The course includes access to key accredited courses including First Aid, Health and Safety, Fork Lift Novice Licence and an IOSH managing safety course with additional e-learning modules that can be accessed remotely and cover all aspects of personal development, accredited health and safety, and aspects of the logistics industry.

Commenting on the new programme, Simon Harper, Training and Development Manager at The Port of Tilbury said: “As we have seen during this past year, transport and logistics are key roles in our society and we are very pleased to be able to launch this new programme to give the local community the opportunity through training and development to enhance their employability for a career in this sector. Anyone interested in the course should speak to their job centre.”

Cllr Deb Huelin, Thurrock Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “We’re delighted that The Port of Tilbury is launching Routes to Logistics thanks to funding from the Tilbury CLLD programme.

 “This project aims to improve the lives of residents in Tilbury by helping them to overcome obstacles to employment and take a significant step to moving into jobs, education or training.

 “I encourage anyone who is eligible and interested in working in the transport and logistics industry to apply.”

Routes to Logistics is a 21-month project specifically for the Tilbury community, engaging 204 people in logistics and transport sector training and careers pathways. The project develops local pathways to the businesses, customers and projects associated with the Port of Tilbury and UK plc. Routes to Logistics is funded by the Tilbury Community-led Local Development (CLLD) programme administered by Thurrock Council and in Partnership with Tilbury on the Thames Trust

With limited places available please register your interest by emailing Training.Coordinator@potll.com with your contact details including your address and one of the team will call back within a week to confirm eligibility and next steps.

18 March 2021                                 – ends-

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Kickstart for Young People's Careers on the Thames

Monday 1st February 2021

Over 30 unemployed young people are set to join the Port of London Authority (PLA) in Gravesend and Forth Ports, including at Tilbury, for paid six-month traineeships this spring, as part of the Government’s £2.4 billion Kickstart work programme.

Opportunities available, ranging from administration through to operations, will give 16 to 24-year olds a chance to gain important experience in a real working environment.

Glenn Witham, HR director at the PLA, said: “With the pandemic seriously affecting young people’s job prospects, we want to do our bit by helping them develop the skills and confidence to secure full-time employment.

“The majority of our recent apprentices have gone on to greater things with us and we hope that will be the case for our new Kickstart trainees too.”

Jackie Anderson, group HR manager at Forth Ports, said: “This is not an easy time for people looking to start a career.

“Kickstart is great new way of reaching out to even more young people. Hopefully it will be a steppingstone for other opportunities for them with us, such as an apprenticeship, or even a permanent job.

“We have a long and proud tradition of investing in opportunities for people entering the jobs market for the first time, with almost 100 apprentices in place in roles across the business, including with engineering, operations and finance.

Kickstart applicants, who must have been on Universal Credit for six months, will be referred to the PLA and Forth Ports by Job Centre Plus

The Government pays the minimum wage for the roles offered, based on a maximum 25-hour week.

With CVs already being received, interviews are expected to take place in February, and it is hoped the first successful candidates will be in place in March.

1 February 2021                                                ends

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