Peel Ports’ £300million investment in its landmark Liverpool2 deep water container terminal will create around 5,000 new jobs in the North West. Two-thirds of the direct jobs are expected to be taken by people living within a ten mile radius of the Port of Liverpool.
Liverpool2 is a new deep-water container facility that will enable the port to handle the new generation of super-sized container vessels that will dominate world shipping. Liverpool2 will generate around 500 jobs at the port as well as up to 4,500 more in the maritime and logistics supply chains over the next five years.
Liverpool2 will emerge as a major contributor to the Merseyside economy, providing job opportunities and careers for local people.
New jobs will include full and part time opportunities for stevedores, pilots, launch crew, line handlers, plant operators, haulage administrators, vessel planning and supervision staff, and work in management, accounts and commercial services.
The recruitment process is presently focused on filling specialised engineering and technology roles. So far eight positions have been filled at the Port of Liverpool and from early 2015, recruitment will increase significantly, with the focus shifting to operational roles at the port.
Peel Ports Group Liverpool is also investing £350,000 in skills and training to meet a growing demand for skilled workers in the sector.
The UK maritime sector is facing an estimated shortfall of 5,000 staff over the next few years and yet major developments such as Liverpool2 and the Mersey Gateway will need a steady supply of skilled workers. Consequently, Peel Ports is working with a number of specialised education and training providers across the region such as Hugh Baird College, Mersey Maritime, Liverpool John Moore’s University and Liverpool Community College. The Group already has an extensive apprenticeship programme in place in partnership with MECNW, employing around 40 apprentices in electrical and mechanical engineering roles.
David Huck, Port Director at Peel Ports believes that investing in people is fundamental to the success of Liverpool2.
He said:
“Employment in the maritime sector is expected to double over the next 20 years and Peel Ports is determined to play a pivotal role both in creating those jobs and ensuring the workforce has the skills we need to be successful. The whole region stands to benefit enormously from growth and investment in maritime and related sectors.
“Harnessing and developing the energy, creativity and commitment of our workforce is right at the heart of our plans for growth and development. Our investments in infrastructure, IT and processes across the group will only be able to realise their full potential if we have the best people working for us. That is why we are making significant investments in training and apprenticeships.
“Investments like Liverpool2 have the ability to make a positive contribution to an export led economic recovery in the region, but in order for them to be truly sustainable, Peel Ports need to invest and continue to invest in the core skills required to do so, which is why we are committed to investing in people as well as technology.
“We are building a world-class workforce, to provide customers with a world-class service.”