PD Ports has teamed up with national business-led charity, Business in the Community (BiTC), to offer a group of 25 business studies students an insight in to the maritime industry at the Port of Immingham.

The visit was set up with students from Immingham’s Oasis Academy and is part of a three-year BiTC Business Class programme, which PD Ports has committed to on the Humber. 

The aim of the programme is to establish partnerships between education providers and businesses, working together to inspire young people as they start to think about their potential career path. 

During the visit the students learned about importing and exporting of goods around the world, as well as the variety of job roles involved in making that happen. 

Russ McCallion, PD Ports’ Group HR Director, commented on how making the maritime sector more visible to young people will only prove beneficial for everyone involved: “Engaging business with education providers is very much in line with our values at PD Ports. Without people our business simply wouldn’t survive. It is critical to our succession planning to get young people excited about a career in the maritime industry and we need to be visible to the outside world in order to achieve this. 

“Our business is very much about skills – and providing those early, through initiatives like the Business Class programme is good for everyone.”

Michelle Dickinson, BiTC’s Education and Employee Volunteering Manager for South Yorkshire, Hull & Humber, commented: “This is such an exciting opportunity for these young people who typically wouldn’t get chance to see first-hand a port at work. Learning about global trade and the associated supply chains has been an invaluable experience for each and every one of them.” 

Lauren Taylor, a year 10 student from Oasis Academy, said: "The visit has made me think about the career opportunities that are local to me and the different types of roles that are available."

Craig Varley, Business Studies Teacher at Oasis Academy added: "An experience like this is important to put into context the learning we do in the classroom. To be able to see it in action in a real life situation is fantastic."

PD Ports will extend its connections with the Business Class programme in Goole and Scunthorpe later in the year.