Shirley Parsons is pleased to announce that we have joined Port Skills and Safety (PSS) as an Affiliate Member, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the UK’s ports and maritime sector.
Port Skills and Safety is the national membership organisation dedicated to improving health, safety and skills across the UK ports industry. By bringing together port operators, industry experts and supporting organisations, PSS provides a collaborative platform for sharing best practice, driving continuous improvement and helping the sector prepare for future challenges.
As a global HSEQ professional services business, Shirley Parsons supports organisations through specialist recruitment, executive search and consultancy. Becoming an Affiliate Member reflects our continued investment in the ports sector and our ambition to contribute to the conversations shaping its future.
Building stronger relationships across the Ports Sector.
Over recent years, Shirley Parsons has developed strong relationships with organisations across the ports industry. Led by Ports specialist Mike Roebuck, we have supported a number of UK port operators with specialist recruitment, placing health, safety and operational professionals into critical roles that help organisations operate safely, efficiently and sustainably.
Working closely with port operators has provided valuable insight into the sector’s evolving workforce challenges, from attracting specialist talent and developing future leaders to supporting organisations as they respond to changing legislation, new technologies and increasing sustainability expectations.
Our Affiliate Membership of Port Skills and Safety represents a natural extension of these relationships, providing further opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders and contribute to the continued development of the sector.
Insights from the 2026 Port Skills and Safety Conference.
In July, Mike attended the Port Skills and Safety Members’ Conference 2026, held as part of Maritime Safety Week. The event brought together port operators, health and safety leaders, regulators and industry partners to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of the UK’s ports.
Throughout the day, speakers explored themes including workforce development, safety culture, operational resilience, decarbonisation, automation and the importance of collaboration in improving safety outcomes across the sector.
For Shirley Parsons, the conference reinforced the value of bringing together employers, industry bodies and specialist partners to share knowledge, develop skills and build a safer, stronger and more resilient ports industry.
Supporting the future of the Ports industry.
Commenting on the announcement, Mike Roebuck said:
"Having worked with a number of UK port operators over recent years, I've seen first-hand the important work being done to strengthen safety, develop people and prepare for the future. Attending this year's Port Skills and Safety Conference reinforced just how collaborative the sector is and how much can be achieved when organisations come together to share knowledge and best practice. Becoming an Affiliate Member is a natural next step for Shirley Parsons. We're looking forward to building even stronger relationships across the Port Skills and Safety community while continuing to support organisations with specialist HSEQSS recruitment, executive search and consultancy expertise."
As the ports sector continues to evolve, Shirley Parsons looks forward to supporting Port Skills and Safety’s mission to advance skills, strengthen safety and help organisations access the specialist talent and expertise needed to meet the challenges of tomorrow.
Looking for support across Health & Safety, Quality or specialist talent within the ports sector? Get in touch with our team to find out how Shirley Parsons can support your organisation.
Mike Roebuck
Mike is a Senior Careers Consultant at Shirley Parsons, operating as a 360 recruiter and supporting both clients and candidates across the HSE market. He works closely with organisations within logistics, ports, waste and wider manufacturing, delivering recruitment solutions that balance technical requirements, culture and long term objectives.
