The University of Plymouth has been awarded funding by Thames Freeport to help drive its economic growth and prepare the local workforce to meet the demands of its rapid expansion.

The project will see the Plymouth Business School grow its existing partnership with the Port of Tilbury, located on the Thames and the principal port for London.

In particular, it will work with the Tilbury Logistics Academy to develop a comprehensive suite of short courses and micro-credentials.

The courses will cover essential business subjects such as project management, leadership, and decision-making for sustainable procurement, as well as logistics-related courses including freight forwarding and letters of credit.

Over the coming months, staff from Plymouth and Tilbury will work closely with secondary schools and colleges close to the Freeport, enhancing the ability to deliver relevant and accessible training to a broader audience.

In doing so, the hope is that the project will address local demographic needs and focus on increasing high-quality apprenticeship starts, supporting young people’s transitions into employment or further study, and developing emerging leaders.

The project harnesses the University’s expertise in disciplines including port operations, internationalisation, logistics and supply chain management, data analytics, and sustainable business management.