In 2003, a 17-year-old Gavin Robinson walked through the gates of Teesport as a new apprentice. Two decades later, Gavin leads the Crane Engineering team as a Crane Manager, proof of his hard work and the career opportunities and loyalty that makes PD Ports what it is today.
Gavin’s story begins in Billingham, where he grew up fascinated by how things worked. Work experience with family members cemented his ambition to be an electrician and, after college, a training provider introduced him to PD Ports.
“I remember my first interview vividly,” says Gavin. “Four senior people in suits on one side of the table, and me on the other, a nervous teenager. I was lucky to be given the chance.”
That chance became a career. Gavin spent his early years as an apprentice, learning his trade through a blend of college study and working on-site at Teesport four days a week. He achieved ONC, HNC and NVQ Level 3 qualifications and qualified as an electrician in 2007.
The following years were a baptism of fire. Working nights as the only electrician on Tees Dock he was responsible for electrical call outs across the site. “It was daunting, but it taught me to think logically, stay calm and build resilience,” he says. “I always had support at the end of the phone, but the responsibility pushed me to grow fast.”
It was the sheer variety of work that kept Gavin hooked. “Compared to other apprenticeships, there’s nothing like it,” he says. “Teesport is like a small town. We run our own high-voltage network, maintain RTG, STS, HMC, RORO and overhead cranes, reach stackers, forklifts, automated gates – you touch everything in electrical engineering.
“It makes you incredibly employable. Other companies see PD Ports on your CV and know you’ve had the best training.”
For Gavin, the appeal of PD Ports goes beyond the kit. “What keeps me here is the people. From the start it felt like family. I enjoyed the job, but I also enjoyed the team. That culture is why people stay – the support, the camaraderie and the job security. There’s always going to be a river.”
Over the years, Gavin progressed through roles as Team Leader, Superintendent and now Crane Manager, responsible for a team of 18 people. He has introduced a new structure to strengthen planning and efficiency, championed apprentices and driven greener innovation, including working on the procurement of two multi-million-pound electric cranes to replace diesel-powered models.
Leadership is where Gavin’s passion shines through. “I tell new starters my story so they know I’ve been in their shoes,” he says. “At school you might get laughed at for asking questions, but here curiosity is a strength. There’s no such thing as a stupid question. The people who ask are the ones who succeed.
“My role is to make people feel at ease, give them confidence and create an environment where they can thrive.”
Today, Gavin is proud to call PD Ports his lifelong employer. “I don’t even have a CV,” he says. “I’ve never needed one. For me, this has always been more than a job – it’s a career, a community and a place where you can make a difference.”