coverage in the lead up to the festive period , PD Ports partnered with Stockton Riverside College , the Road Haulage Association and fellow logistics providers Prestons of Potto to offer six students the unique opportunity to shadow its LGV drivers in a bid to showcase careers in the logistics sector .
Following their placements and upon successfully completing the course , which enables students to acquire their licences and a level 2 logistics qualification , the students will commence employment within PD Ports ’ growing transport team and embark on their new careers .
Not only has PD Ports continued to invest in future skills , the port operator has again reinforced its position as the driving force behind the Tees Valley ’ s revival , investing millions throughout the last 12 months in developing infrastructure , championing decarbonisation and strengthening post-Covid economic recovery .
Since launching its master plan in early
2021 , in which PD Ports aims to work with customers and stakeholders to elevate the River Tees to the UK ’ s most successful port region by 2050 , the port operator has enjoyed a number of successes across its commercial operations .
These include announcing a partnership with Europe ’ s largest port , the Port of Rotterdam , signing a third major deal at the multi-million-pound Teesport Bulks Terminal , celebrating a huge 60 per cent growth in bulk volumes and securing the future of global names on Teesside including STRABAG and Diffusion Alloys .
In March , PD Ports also welcomed prime minister Boris Johnson and chancellor Rishi Sunak to Teesport in their only postbudget event following the announcement that Teesside had been successful in its bid for freeport status .
As statutory harbour authority for the River Tees , PD Ports worked tirelessly to support the bid with its development building on PD Ports ’ track record of attracting over £ 1bn of new investment to
Teesside in the last 10 years .
Following the official launch of the Teesside Freeport in November , PD Ports is excited by the future prospects for the region .
CEO Frans Calje said : “ Freeport status will enable PD Ports to build on our successful track record of attracting new investment and creating new jobs across the region .
“ Alongside other new developments planned by PD Ports , including the £ 185m Northern Gateway Container Terminal , freeport status is another major step towards achieving our ambition to make the River Tees the UK ’ s most successful port region by 2050 and we are looking forward to seeing the initiative come to fruition .
“ The River Tees is a national asset for trade and our freeport status will further help us , as the legal guardians of the river , to unlock its full potential and deliver the prosperity this region deserves .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 59