He’s now worked his way up to a first class pilot and also trains and recruits others. Chad, who expertly navigates and berths ships along and on the Humber, was quickly welcomed into ABP to help settle him into his role. 

He enjoys his rewarding job, saying: “After the first few months of training I found that the role of a pilot was the most rewarding job I have ever done. “I received a lot of responsibility with my new role but my team at ABP were there every step of the way to guide me through. Not only do I get to navigate and berth ships, but I also get to go home every day and see my family which is something seafarers don’t get to do.”

Age: 20
Position: Supply Chain Placement Student
Location: Scunthorpe
University: University of Lincoln
Course: Business and Marketing

What is your role within British Steel and what does it involve?

“I’m currently forming part of the Supply Chain Outbound Logistics department. Within the team I regularly assist in the invoice tracking for deliveries. I’m also working on improving the current system we use for tracking, to make the process more automated and therefore reducing time spent on the task. This is important as it’s keeping with the companies continuous improvement strategy that it is integrating into its culture. 

“My main project I’ve been given responsibility for is the renewal of all rail crossing signage out on site. This is a complex task due to the size of the Scunthorpe site. There are nearly 100 signs that need to be renewed and with each one come a lot of assessments, precautions and procedures that need to be put in place prior to work. The key I’m finding to this task is ensuring continuous communication with suppliers, engineers, plant managers as well as the other colleagues needed to execute this task.” 

Why did you choose to work for British Steel?

“Being fairly local to the area, I already had prior knowledge of British Steel before joining and therefore had some indication to the impressive scale of the operation. Upon further research I found more information that only impressed me further, including the employment rate of around 4,000 people, a site more than 2,000 acres in size with over 100 miles of internal rail and 40 miles of road. 

“I also was keen on the idea of working in large-scale manufacturing and with 150 years of heritage and an operation that produces 3 million tonnes of quality steel products every year, I couldn’t say no to the opportunity.” 

How would you describe British Steel’s culture and how you fit into it?

“The culture at British Steel is very traditional but takes on new aspects of modern thinking. Many employees that work here have decades of experience under their belts, which fuels passion and pride within the workplace. You can learn something new from everyone you meet here, and there’s plenty of people to meet. 

“I feel I fit into this culture purely by willing to learn from everyone here and also by bringing my own ideas to the business.” 

How do you think your experience at British Steel will help with your future career goals?

“I feel the name British Steel carries a lot of respect with people across the country appreciating the scale of work that it does – it’s definitely an impressive and stand-out name to have on your CV. 

“More importantly there are lots of opportunities here to grow your skill set in many different environments and even secure permanent positions with British Steel as it’s always looking to grow its workforce.” 

What do you think is the best thing about working for British Steel?

“The thing I like most about working here is the diversity of the work. Working in a large-scale organisation can throw up interesting challenges in a range of fields. Even on my own project, which in theory should be repetitive, there are always new issues that need to be resolved. One of the best things about this is it takes you out of your comfort zone. There are always people willing to help but knowing you got through an issue using your own initiative, meeting people and gaining insight you wouldn’t have done otherwise, is very rewarding.” 

What do you find most challenging about working for British Steel?

“The most challenging bit is finding the right contacts. On a site as big as this, there are many people with different roles and responsibilities so finding the right person who can help you can sometimes be time-consuming.

“Also, when first starting in the job, driving on site can be rather daunting, especially when you’re only given a location of an office building that sometimes is only as big as a house. But once you’ve been on site a few times, it does get a lot easier.” 

Can you describe British Steel in 3 words?

“I would say huge, proud and iconic. I’ve already mentioned the size of the site and the pride of those working within it, but I think it’s the heritage that is a defining feature of the company. Since the recent rebranding, the heritage has been used as a building block to develop a strong brand and culture for the modern workplace.”

Do you have any advice for people currently applying to British Steel?

“There is a definite British Steel culture and going from my experiences, recruiters choose people that will fit into this and integrate into one of the teams. 

“Speaking from my experience as a placement student, I don’t think your past experience or education is any more important than your attitude to work. You’re here to gain the experiences of British Steel so it’s more important that your personal values align with that of the company.”

A painter and decorator by trade, Louise Knowles now operates the impressive container spreaders and reach stackers. Before starting work at ABP, Louise had previous port experience of driving tugs as well as lashing and trimming on vessels however sought a better work-life balance and decided to attend an ABP Careers Day event held on the Humber. 

“I started working at the Hull Container Terminal at the end of November 2016 and haven’t looked back. It was genuinely the best thing I’ve ever done. I can now drive five different specialist vehicles, I have a pension, I’m part of a health scheme and I receive help with childcare vouchers. ABP have continued to support me in my desire to continue learning and over the next few months, I'll even be learning how to drive a gantry crane.”

Having predominantly worked in male environments, Louise explains that at ABP she feels like an equal: “I have a great working relationship with all of my colleagues, we have a laugh with each other but we also help each other and I feel respected. Even though I’m the only female working the machines, it doesn’t make a difference to anyone and I can honestly say that I love my job at ABP”.

Name: Sharon Whitelaw

How long have you been with the company: 4 years and 5 months

Job Role: Bus Driver

Where did you find the job advertisement to apply for the role?

My daughter applied to Stagecoach herself, and was accepted on to their training programme. She herself passed her training and her PSV driving test. I thought this was something I myself would like to do, so also applied and was accepted onto their training programme also.

Why did you want to work for the company?

After hearing about the company and the offer of in house training to enable me to gain my PSV licence, and hearing about the job role of a bus driver, It appealed to me immediately. The company also offered opportunities to enable you to achieve your full potential and progress into the management side of things should you wish to, whilst being given full support.

What interested you about the industry?

Stagecoach is one of the biggest bus companies, and as I wanted to pursue the career of a bus driver, this is the main company operating from the vicinity of where I live. That, and the benefit of pretty much being your own boss, and incentives offered.

Can you describe a typical day for you?

I work 12 hour shifts, which is my own choice, as there are numerous rota’s available to choose from. I arrive at my depot to be signed in and get given my duty sheet for the day. This tells me what bus number I will be driving and what service runs I shall be operating. I am solely responsible of doing a 10 minute walk round check of my bus, to identify any safety and operational defects. Once this is completed, I then drive to the bus station where I can then pick up my passengers and proceed to my destination. I am responsible for handling cash and card payments and am there to give advice to customers. Throughout the day, I may have to change which bus I drive. I meet a lot of different people from all walks of life, and sometimes have to deal with some challenging situations. My predominant job is to drive a bus, but my role as a bus driver is far more than just that. No two days are the same. It is varied, and can be very interesting and sometimes challenging.  I am responsible for my bus, my passengers, other road users, and pedestrians.

What qualities do you bring to the role?

I am an outgoing person, and can converse with anyone. I feel I am calm, when under pressure, and very much a team player, and have a good sense of humour. I remain professional at all times, and am a conscientious and careful driver. Customer service and satisfaction is high on my agenda.

What is difficult about your role?

Sticking to the bus times is often difficult, as traffic congestion, roadworks and accidents can pop up at anytime. Dealing with angry passengers can be very challenging, as can other drivers that get impatient.

What is the best thing about working at the company?

The company offers a lot of in house training, incentives and opportunities, whilst offering a very competitive salary.

Why would you recommend working in the industry?

As a bus driver, no two days are the same. It is varied and unpredictable. I get to meet a wide variety of different people, the salary is fair, I am given support when required but also given the responsibility to work and operate on my own.