Students at Hugh Baird College in Bootle who are interested in a career in maritime can now apply for four-week placements at the Port of Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports

Port of Liverpool owner Peel Ports is teaming up with Hugh Baird College in Bootle to offer placements for young people considering careers in maritime.

The new partnership will enable students to apply for and undertake a four-week industry placement across a number of disciplines at the company’s Port of Liverpool site in Seaforth, close to the college.

Dan Weigh, head of operational HR at Peel Ports, said: “Peel Ports Group is delighted to be working with Hugh Baird College to provide a number of students with scholarship and work placement opportunities at our Port of Liverpool facility.

“We take our role within our local communities seriously and as the maritime industry continues to thrive, bringing with it many career opportunities, it is important that we encourage future generations to be part of this exciting industry.

“Early engagement with the potential workforce of tomorrow is a critical element of our talent attraction strategy and this initiative compliments that nicely.”

Industry experience plays a vital role in the study programmes offered to all Hugh Baird College students. Combined with their chosen vocational qualification, enrichment and employability skills, all students at Hugh Baird College are offered a chance to spend time developing their skills in a real working environment.

Principal and chief executive of the college, Rachael Hennigan, added: “The opportunity it will provide for our students will not only give them a real insight into working at the port, but it will also prepare them to work within Peel Ports when they complete their Level 3 studies with us.

“The Port of Liverpool is a stone’s throw away from our Balliol Road campus and is strategically important to the growth of the Liverpool city region. Our challenge as a college is to help our students access the employment opportunities that the Port has, and the partnership we are launching today will help facilitate that.”