Simon Brett, ABP Head of Projects, Humber; Dr Karen Ashman, Director of STEM, Wilberforce College; Stacey Oglesby, Senior Personnel Assistant, ABP and David Cooper, Principal, Wilberforce College, with some of the students that attended the presentation. (Image courtesy of Wilberforce College
Students at Wilberforce College in Hull were given the chance to find out about employment opportunities offered by Associated British Ports (ABP), as well as how their future will be shaped by Green Port Hull during a presentation by Simon Brett, ABP Head of Projects, Humber.
The talk was given to the college’s engineering, maths and science students, and was the first talk ABP has delivered in a local school or college. It is also one of many events the college intends to hold to help its students gain an understanding of how the ports, logistics and renewables industries operate.
In 2014 Wilberforce College cemented its commitment to embracing the growing Humber renewables industry with the opening of a new engineering workshop, which allows all BTEC Engineering practical training to be completed on site.
The College also appointed several new training and management team members to drive the engineering department forward, including Dr Karen Ashman, Director of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
She said: “I am delighted that Simon Brett is developing relationships between the students at Wilberforce College and ABP in Hull. By making them aware of the extensive investment projects being undertaken at Green Port Hull and the career opportunities that will arise, it will inspire them to aim high in their studies and see the practical application of the courses they are taking.
“Hull’s youngsters will play a pivotal role in the growth of the region’s renewables sector. The multi million pound joint investment by ABP and Siemens in developing offshore wind turbines and renewable energy sources will require a highly skilled workforce. It is essential for our students to prepare now for careers in this industry to take full advantage of future opportunities.”
Simon Brett, Head of Projects at ABP, said: “It’s fantastic to get out and meet the young people who might eventually work on one of the Green Port Hull projects, and talk to them about renewable energy and the importance of the Humber estuary to the sector, as well as employment opportunities within ABP itself.
“This is an exciting time for Hull and the wider region and it’s great to share that positivity with the people that will ultimately benefit.”
Sam Carmichael, a Wilberforce College student who attended the talk said: “I found today really interesting, it gave us a great insight into the industry developments happening on our doorstep and it’s really encouraging to know that we’re being invested in.”
Wilberforce Sixth Form College is based on Saltshouse Road in Hull. It was established in 1988 and has grown to cater for over 1650 students working towards GCSEs, A levels, BTECs and City and Guilds qualifications.
ABP is the UK’s leading ports operator with 21 ports and other transport related businesses creating a unique national network capable of handling a vast array of cargo.
Around one quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade passes through ABP’s Statutory Harbour Areas. ABP contributes £5.6 billion to the UK economy every year and supports 84, 000 jobs. Our current investment programme promises to deliver an extra £1.75 billion for the economy every year.
ABP…
- · Handled over 1.5 million vehicles in 2013.
- · Generates around one quarter of the UK’s rail freight
- · Has 1.4 million square metres of covered storage
- · Has 1000 hectares of open storage
- · Handled 119m tonnes of cargo in 2013
- · Owns 5000 hectares of port estate
- · Has 87km of quay
Over the next five years, ABP is investing over £650 million in a wide range of major projects across the group.
ABP Humber
The four ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole handle more than 65 million tonnes of cargo between them each year.
Grimsby and Immingham form the UK’s busiest trading gateway and move around 54 million tonnes of cargo per annum.
£75 million is currently being invested in the biomass handling terminal in Immingham, in a Humber-wide agreement with Drax Power Ltd that has seen £25 million invested in a biomass handling facility in Hull. The Immingham Renewable Fuels Terminal will handle sustainable biomass shipments and will create over 100 permanent jobs once complete. The construction phase has also created 100 employment opportunities.
The Port of Hull handles 10 million tonnes of cargo per annum and is the is the focal point for the development of the UK’s largest offshore wind turbine construction, assembly, and service facility, as well as well as a rotor blade manufacturing facility, which will be located on the Port’s Alexandra Dock. This development represents a £310 million investment and will create up to 1000 direct jobs.
The Grimsby River Terminal represents an investment of £26 million and allows large car-carrying ships to berth outside the Port’s lock system. This development confirms the Port’s position as the UK’s leading automotive handling facility.
More than the equivalent of 1million teus (twenty foot equivalent unit) of unitised trade is shipped through ABP Humber ports.
Ro-ro and container traffic represents more than 30 sailings a week to Europe, Scandinavia the Baltic and beyond.
The Humber ports handle more than 70 freight train movements per day.
Goole is situated 50 miles upriver and is the UK’s premier inland port. It handles over two million tonnes of cargo annually.
