At Peel Ports we are working to achieve greater gender balance across all ports, operations and functions. Every one of our roles is equally suited to both men and women and we have set some big goals to ensure we have a greater representation of women.  

We actively seek and encourage applications from female candidates and we have developed initiatives to ensure this is continued from the initial recruitment process to promotion and career progression opportunities.

Initiatives include greater female representation in senior roles, mentoring, agile and mobile working and bespoke support options where necessary.

Peel Ports stands firm on ensuring racism, harassment or discrimination are not tolerated and everyone is treated equally no matter their race or ethnic background. We want to lead the way within the maritime industry and drive positive attitudes.

We have a number of initiatives and have the necessary support from dedicated consultants to help shape our strategy and reach our goals. From consulting, listening and learning from colleagues, to ensuring everyone feel safe and empowered to report any issues and know where to get support.

We are developing local initiatives to increase black and ethnic minority career applications for greater representation and to better reflect the communities at all locations.

We fully support  LGBTQ+ communities and want everyone to feel safe to be who they are without any fear of discrimination or prejudice. To achieve this, we are taking action on a number of fronts:

• As part of the ongoing equality, diversity and inclusion strategy we aim to create a network of LGBTQ+ champions at each of our locations to promote confidence and provide support
• Bespoke training programmes for staff
• Zero tolerance policy towards discrimination
• Awareness-building to promote a diverse and inclusive culture
• Supporting external events and showcasing our support for these communities

As we strive to create an inclusive environment where all employees can thrive, it is imperative that we take proactive steps to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not only welcomed but also empowered to contribute their unique talents and perspectives. We are working to become a Disability Confident Employer, a UK government certification scheme designed to improve how we recruit, retain and develop people with disabilities.  We are committed to challenging attitudes and negative perceptions and want to increase awareness and training to remove barriers, so every team member is given the opportunity to have a fulfilled career with Peel Ports, regardless of their abilities.

The health and safety of our employees and all port users is our top priority. We invest heavily to ensure we have every measure in place to protect people and this also includes mental health. We have developed a range of initiatives designed to provide people with the confidence to seek support without stigma:

• Actively promoting mental health awareness
• Our annual environmental, social and governance conference covers this important area
• Training programmes for all managers and supervisors
• Easy to identify mental health first aiders across all locations

As the maritime industry continues to thrive, ports and the wider sector create growth through investment, bringing employment to the community and as most jobs are physically located on or near the port estate, provide long-term, stable roles for local people. The extensive variety of jobs provides many opportunities for apprenticeships, on-the-job academic learning, and a varied career for life.