Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has given his support to one of the UK's most important ports.
The Labour MP visited the Port of Tilbury yesterday (2 February) with Polly Billington, the Labour candidate for Thurrock.
The duowere briefed on the key role Tilbury plays in the local and national economy, and the significant investments - £75 million in 2015 - being made at the port by the company that owns it plus the port's tenants, creating over 300 long-term jobs as well as a number of short term construction jobs.
Balls and Billington were also shown the outcome of the recent multi-million pound investment made across the port, including London Container Terminal, one of the UK’s largest container terminals which together with the rest of the port, handles over half a million containers each year.
Balls said: 'Tilbury is London's engine, supporting Britain's economic growth. The port is the UK's gateway to Europe. Our relationship with Europe is an important factor in ensuring the port thrives. The new investment in Tilbury Port will have a positive impact on the local economy, by boosting the number of skilled jobs and apprenticeships.'
Bllington added: “The Port of Tilbury has shown enormous resilience in the face of the global financial crisis and increased competition. To prepare for the future changes in the industry, employers like the port will need to continue to help develop the skills of the local workforce. Skilled secure jobs are essential to the economic success of our community, and they should be available and advertised for local people. It is good to see skilled jobs being created at the port with the prospect of more in the future. Let’s make sure local people have the chance to fill those posts.”
Commenting on the visit, Perry Glading, COO at Forth Ports, which owns the Port of Tilbury, said: “This visit was a great opportunity for Tilbury to showcase the port's pivotal role in supporting the UK economy, from supplying construction materials for housing schemes across the South-East and large infrastructure projects like Crossrail, to supporting the drive to improve recycling rates with the largest sorting and export facility in Britain.
'Key to the port's strength is the continuous investment in our assets across the port estate. I was delighted that our staff, who are integral to that investment programme, were able to meet the shadow chancellor. Having a skilled workforce is key to delivering the service level our customers expect from a major port. We are an important employer in the area with over 800 people directly employed at the port and we contribute to the local economy with over 8,000 jobs depending on us to continue to be successful.”
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