Teesside firm welcomes first operational apprentices

A long-established Teesside business has taken a significant step to future-proof its workforce by introducing operational apprenticeships for the first time.

Navigator Terminals, a chemicals and fuels storage firm based on the River Tees, has recruited its inaugural operational apprentices, Elliott Johnson and Kia Huntington.

The initiative follows support from the Tees Valley Combined Authority, which helped boost the recruitment effort earlier this year.

Elliott, from Redcar, studied business at college but it wasn’t quite for him. And now he now sees a career in the chemical and fuels storage industry as viable.

“I had a job for a year and wanted something a bit more secure in a thriving industry. That’s when I put in for the apprenticeship.

“It’s the operations side of it I enjoy. The chemicals, and the process of transferring it from tank to tanks, having the ships come in, and the road tankers loading.

“I’m definitely more of a hands-on learner – reading off a screen isn’t really for me. Getting out on site and seeing how to do it is great for me.”

Kia also joined the company over the summer as a Terminal Operator Apprentice after successfully coming through the application process.

She said: “I went to sixth form and did health and social care, but I had a career change when this came up. I realised college wasn’t for me – I wanted to be more outside, hands on and learning, rather than just in a classroom.”

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “Teesside is the beating heart of our nation’s chemical and processing industry – and Navigator Terminals are another vital piece of the jigsaw in keeping it running. 

“We’ve laid the foundations to bring thousands of good, well-paid jobs to the people of Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool – but it means nothing if we don’t put the work in to ensure as many of our young people get those jobs.

“Apprenticeships are crucial if we want our area to succeed and reap the full potential of what we’re doing.

“So, it’s great to see our team giving a Teesside employer like Navigator the boost it needs to get our young people into our core industries and taking on apprentices.”

With 60 years of industry presence, Navigator Terminals is focusing on nurturing new talent through its apprenticeship programme, aiming to build careers in the tank storage sector.

Roy Brooke, chief executive officer at the firm, added: “At Navigator, we believe in the potential of people. Our apprenticeship programme is more than just training; it’s about shaping the future of the industry. 

“We recognise the growing need for fresh talent in the tank storage and new energies sector. As the industry evolves, so too does the demand for a workforce equipped with the latest technical skills, and Navigator is determined to meet this challenge head-on.

“We’re excited to be at the forefront of developing skills that are essential to our business and by doing so, Navigator is not only preparing the business for the future but also creating pathways for young talent to contribute to the evolving storage and energy landscape.” 

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