TRAINING
Win-win - School visits benefit the children and colleagues enjoy meeting them and talking about what they do .
Our people are our most important asset .
“ As a values-driven business and with ‘ family ’ being one of those values , we treat our colleagues , customers and suppliers as family .
“ We look after colleagues and want the very best for them . Even if this means we train them up and they go elsewhere , we know we have supported them to be the best versions of themselves .”
Inspiring the next generation : community and education partnerships The second key area of focus , education partnerships , aims to establish stronger partnerships with schools , colleges and universities to inspire the next generation .
In 2024 , the firm launched its Environmental , Social & Governance ( ESG ) strategy , solidifying its sustainability strategy and commitment to inspiring the next generation .
A key focus is fostering strong community ties . As part of this commitment , the firm actively collaborates with local education partners , including Teesside University , the Northern School of Art , Middlesbrough College and the Education Training Collective ( Etc .). These partnerships aim to develop emerging talent through hands-on , real-world experiences .
Each year , 3D design students from the Northern School of Art create 3D and virtual reality ( VR ) designs of AV Dawson ’ s Port of Middlesbrough facility .
This four-week project allows students to hone their design and pitching skills and helps them prepare for the next stage of their careers .
In addition , the firm recently welcomed students from Teesside University for a 13-week project focused on business intelligence and data analytics for another part of the AV Dawson Group , AV Dawson Transport .
This hands-on project provided students with practical experience analysing data from various systems , culminating in a formal presentation of their findings to AV Dawson .
Further demonstrating its commitment to regional growth , the firm is a founding member of the Tees Maritime Cluster – a collective dedicated to driving Teesside ’ s economic development .
The cluster harnesses the region ’ s maritime strength and vision , championing initiatives to establish Teesside as a leading net zero hub .
It ’ s also focused on driving skills development , innovation and economic growth , reinforcing the region ’ s reputation as a centre for maritime excellence .
Careers Focus : engaging the next generation Inspiring the next generation is a huge focus . One way AV Dawson does this is through working with several local primary schools each year as part of its in-house Careers Workplace events , showcasing careers on offer in the maritime and transport industry .
These range from operational jobs unloading ships and driving large forklift trucks , trains and lorries to working in an office-based role such as finance , communications or human resources .
Louise said : “ It ’ s a really engaging experience for them . They enjoy a tour of our site , focusing on the port side operations and transport services . It gives them the chance to learn more about specific careers as they meet our colleagues who are all passionate about the roles they do .
“ It ’ s a win-win for us , as it ’ s a great opportunity for the children , but equally it ’ s rewarding for our colleagues , who get to engage and speak about what they do .”
The firm recently welcomed new apprenticeship roles and regularly opens its doors to work experience students .
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The voice of business in the Tees region | 39