Graduate and early careers

Get ready to
lead the future

Graduate and early careers

Get ready to
lead the future

The UK port industry is the second largest in Europe and ABP is the largest port operator in our country, with 21 ports strategically positioned around Britain.

Our ports include Immingham, the UK’s largest port by tonnage, and Southampton, the UK’s number one port for cars and cruise and the nation’s second largest container port.

Every year, ABP handles around 25% of all UK seaborne trade, that’s more than 85 million tonnes of cargo. Collectively our ports handle around 1.3 million containers, over a million vehicles and 2.6 million cruise and ferry passengers each year. We also own Britain’s busiest inland rail terminal.

Choose your route
Graduate
Applications open
Oct 2023 - Jan 2024
Are you looking to channel your ambition and drive, post-graduation? Would you like to develop a career in maritime and logistics? If you are flexible on location and prepared to challenge yourself, learn quickly and work hard – our graduate training scheme could be the right fit for you.

Starting in October 2024, our two-year Graduate Training Scheme is designed to give you a 360-degree view of the UK’s leading port operator, providing you with the skills and experience you need to become a future leader.


There’s no better time to join and start to grow your career with us.

We’re looking for talented graduates, wanting to become future leaders in the port industry.

As a future leader, you’ll have excellent people skills with the ability to lead and inspire people at all levels. You’ll be based in our fast-paced hubs and surrounded by various industries, you’ll have the ability to learn quickly, adapt and grow, all while showing resilience and determination.

Your ambition and and passion will drive your career in the port industry.

You’ll already have a degree (min 2:1), be flexible on location, prepared to challenge yourself, think creatively and work hard.
The scheme will be very challenging, offering a unique opportunity to develop a range of key skills such as innovation, project management, health and safety and core leadership throughout the duration of your placement, all with the support of a senior mentor.








About the scheme
Our programmes for 2024 include:

Port Operations
Nationwide

Working within our Operations teams, you’ll be mentored through every stage with placements which might include Stevedores, Cruise, Marine, Container Terminals, Bulk, Retail, Commercial and Business Excellence. To help broaden your knowledge of our business, you’ll also get to work from at least one of our other ports.

Engineering
Humber

Working in the business as part of the engineering team, you will not only gain an insight into how engineering supports and enables complex port operations with a diverse range of infrastructure, you will work as part of the team to continue to the development, delivery and operation of the same to Keep Britain Trading.

IT
Southampton

At least 4 placements to include Data & Analytics, Digital Security, IT Projects, Service & Support, Process Improvement. You will also spend time outside of Southampton in one of our other ABP Ports to gain an understanding of the IT Business Partnering role.

Finance
Humber

You will join the Management Accounting team in our Shared Service Centre where you will be involved in the monthly, quarterly and year end financial accounting and reporting process, learn about the core financial activities that are undertaken to support the business, use financial systems and provide insightful information through reporting.

Commercial
Humber and Cardiff

Working within the commercial team will provide the opportunity to learn how we manage relationships with our customers, develop new business and secure major new projects. The placement will give vital exposure to port operations, property, finance, communications and project management to develop vital skills and knowledge to progress a career in the ports sector.

Commercial/Energy Generation

Working within the Energy Generation team supporting the delivery of onshore wind and solar projects across ABP’s ports. The placement will involve several facets of commercial analyst activity including project valuations, electricity market prices and general project delivery activity from concept through to operation. There will also be a placement within a regional utilities team to understand the cost of energy to ABP and its customers

Download
Click to download the 2024 Graduate Brochure pdf
Process
The application process

ONE

Application review

TWO

Online testing

THREE

Video interview

FOUR

Assessment centre

FIVE

Start October 2024
Applications open Oct 2023 - Jan 2024

Register your CV