DP World completes new training and innovation hub at London Gateway
The £13 million facility will support workforce development across the port and logistics park, with training programmes covering crane operations and advanced logistics.
DP World and Thames Freeport have completed a new £13 million training and innovation facility at London Gateway, expanding the infrastructure available to support workforce development across the port and its surrounding logistics park.
Known as The Hive, the three-storey building is located within London Gateway Logistics Park and has been jointly funded by DP World and Thames Freeport.
The facility is designed to support approximately 1,125 trainees annually through industrial skills and employability programmes, with more than 100 days of training activities planned each year.
Construction began in October 2025, while training partners and other organisations are scheduled to begin moving into the completed building in November 2026.
Training facilities target port and logistics operations
The Hive includes dedicated facilities for technical training, with a particular focus on the skills required by the maritime and logistics industries.
Its equipment includes crane operator training simulators, facilities for working-at-height instruction and virtual reality technology intended to support career development activities.
The building also provides meeting rooms, training and event spaces, and a 100-person auditorium.
Additional facilities, including recreational and wellbeing areas, are intended for employees and businesses operating within the wider London Gateway port and logistics ecosystem.
SEATS, previously announced as the facility’s Skills Partner, will work alongside DP World, employers and regional organisations to support the delivery of training programmes.
Investment supports London Gateway development
The project forms part of wider efforts to develop the workforce and supporting infrastructure around London Gateway.
According to DP World, the port and logistics hub currently supports more than 10,000 jobs through direct on-site employment and its contribution to the wider economy.
The company expects the new facility to provide a shared location for employers, training providers and local communities as logistics activity develops across the Thames Estuary.
The Hive was constructed using British steel and has achieved BREEAM Outstanding certification and an EPC A+ energy performance rating.
Although the building is complete, its training activities and other operations are scheduled to begin as participating organisations occupy the facility from November.
