Port Skills and Safety
Port Skills and Safety (PSS) is the UK port sector's professional membership and standards-setting body, delivering safety guidance, apprenticeships, qualifications, HSE audits, and industry events to port operators, training providers, and port workers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Port Skills and Safety does
Port Skills and Safety (PSS) is a UK professional membership organization serving as the standards-setting body for the port sector. Founded in 2002 and headquartered at 30 Park Street, London, the organization runs four membership tiers (Full, Affiliate, Training Provider, Community) covering port operators, training providers, individual port workers, and broader port industry professionals. Its remit spans two pillars: skills (national occupational standards, apprenticeships, qualifications, competency frameworks, port skills audits, career pathways) and safety (Safety in Ports guidance, HSE audits, safety alerts and bulletins, the Safety Climate Tool, and a Port Incident Statistics data dashboard). Beyond its core offerings, PSS operates industry groups (Port Skills Group, Port Safety Group, Women in Ports Network) and runs annual programs including the PSS Conference, the PSS Awards, and recurring campaigns on Mental Health in Ports, EV and Lithium-ion battery awareness, and Port to Haulier Communications.
PSS is funded primarily through annual membership subscriptions, paid training courses (including the Incident Investigators Toolkit), and conferences/exhibitions (e.g., the Electric Vehicle Maritime Safety Conference priced at £150 for members and £200 for non-members). Its go-to-market is sales-led, with membership renewals quoted in December each year and pro-rata fees for mid-year joiners. The customer base is distributed across UK ports — including Port of Aberdeen, Bristol Port Company, Forth Ports, CalMac Ferries, Portsmouth International Port, and others — limiting single-customer dependency. The organization is a private company limited by guarantee, governed by a PSS Board, with no disclosed external investment, no parent company, and 12 employees. PSS monetizes its position as the sector's standards body through bundled content, events, recognition (PSS Awards), and targeted campaigns, while leveraging strategic partnerships (UK Chamber of Shipping for EV safety; Remit Training, EINTAC, EV Fire Solution Services, Dafo for training and equipment) to extend its reach.
Port Skills and Safety firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Port Skills and Safety
- Legal name
- Port Skills and Safety Limited
- Website
- https://portskillsandsafety.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Port Skills and Safety (PSS) is the UK port sector's professional membership and standards-setting body, delivering safety guidance, apprenticeships, qualifications, HSE audits, and industry events to port operators, training providers, and port workers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Port Skills and Safety industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Port Sector Professional Membership and Safety Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support) (TLAHANAD)
Keywords
Where Port Skills and Safety is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Port Skills and Safety business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership fees: Annual membership fees charged on annual basis. Pro-rata fees for members joining mid-year. Quotes for renewal issued in December.
- Training courses: Revenue from Incident Investigators Toolkit and other training courses. Cancellation charges apply (50-100% depending on notice period).
- Event tickets and exhibitions: Revenue from conference tickets (EV Maritime Safety Conference: £150 members, £200 non-members) and exhibition stands/sponsorship.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership - for port operators and companies |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Training Provider Membership |
| Subscription | Annual | Community Membership |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Conference tickets |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Course fees with cancellation policy |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Port Skills and Safety product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Port Skills and Safety is the UK port sector's professional safety and skills membership organization, functioning as the standards-setting body for ports. It sells annual memberships (Full, Affiliate, Training Provider, Community tiers), delivers skills programs (apprenticeships, qualifications, national occupational standards), provides safety services (HSE audits, Safety Climate Tool, incident statistics, data dashboard), and runs training courses, conferences, and industry campaigns for port operators and port workers.
Product overview
Port Skills and Safety is a professional membership organization serving as the standards-setting body for the UK port sector. It operates a multi-faceted platform centered on skills development and safety improvement, comprising skills programs (apprenticeships, qualifications, training, national occupational standards), safety services (guidance, HSE audits, safety alerts, data dashboard, incident statistics), and a Knowledge Hub resource library. The organization runs membership programs (Full, Affiliate, Training Provider, Community), facilitates networking groups (Port Skills Group, Port Safety Group, Women in Ports Network), organizes industry events including the annual PSS Conference and specialized conferences, and conducts targeted campaigns such as Mental Health in Ports, EV/Lithium-ion Awareness, and Port to Haulier Communications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PSS Membership Annual subscription membership program offering access to resources, guidance, audits, and industry networking for UK port sector organizations and individuals across four tiers: Full Membership (port operators and companies), Affiliate Membership, Training Provider Membership, and Community Membership.
- Skills Programs Comprehensive workforce development services including national occupational standards, career pathways, apprenticeships, qualifications, port skills audits, competency management, and training programs for the UK port sector workforce.
- Safety Services Safety improvement programs including Port HSE audits, safety alerts and bulletins, the Safety Climate Tool, port incident statistics, the PSS Data Dashboard, Safety in Ports guidance, and emergency flash cards for performance tracking and incident prevention in the UK port sector.
- Knowledge Hub Online resource library providing access to safety guidance, apprenticeship information, innovation articles, national occupational standards, port incident statistics, PSS strategies, qualifications, safety alerts, bulletins, and case studies for members and the port sector.
- Incident Investigators Toolkit Training Course Training course equipping port sector personnel with incident investigation competencies; cancellation charges apply (50-100% depending on notice period).
- PSS Conference Annual industry conference bringing together port professionals to discuss safety, skills, and innovation topics in the UK port sector.
- Electric Vehicle Maritime Safety Conference Specialized conference co-hosted with UK Chamber of Shipping addressing electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery risks in maritime operations, featuring keynote speakers and industry panels. Tickets priced at £150 for members and £200 for non-members.
- PSS Awards Annual awards program recognizing excellence and achievement in port safety and skills within the UK port sector industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- 72% of port workers report job satisfaction in 2025 (up from 65% in 2023)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Port Skills and Safety
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Port Skills and Safety technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Port Skills and Safety partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UK Chamber of ShippingcoreCo-organized Electric Vehicle Maritime Safety Conference in October 2024, bringing together experts from academia, automotive, and maritime industries to discuss risks from increased use of electric vehicles in ports.
- Remit TrainingminorTraining provider offering technical, non-technical, and bespoke training and apprenticeships. Adding new technologies to motor vehicle technician apprenticeships.
- EINTACminorProvides site visits, evaluations, training courses, PPE, insulated tools, fire blankets and support for health and safety documents relating to high voltage electric and hybrid vehicles.
- EV Fire Solution ServicesminorOrganization training on early interventions in case of EV fire. Concerned about lack of guidance and legislation around EV fire response.
- Dafo Vehicle Fire ProtectionminorVehicle fire protection specialist with extensive firefighter experience. Bringing lessons from Sweden and Norway's EV handling experience.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Port Skills and Safety competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Maritime UK: UK umbrella body bringing together the maritime sector across shipping, ports, marine, and business services. Comparable as a UK maritime-industry coordination and advocacy membership platform with broader scope than PSS.
- International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH): Global alliance of port authorities, port communities, and industry partners. Comparable to PSS as a port-sector membership and standards/knowledge body but operating globally.
- European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO): Pan-European port association representing port authorities on EU policy. Comparable to PSS as a sector trade/membership body but with broader geographic scope and policy focus.
- American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA): US trade and advocacy organisation for port authorities. Functionally similar to PSS as a port-sector membership body, but US-focused.
Regional players
- British Marine: UK trade association for the leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine sector. Functionally comparable as a membership and standards body in the UK maritime space, with narrower focus.
Emerging players
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK): UK professional body for logistics, transport and supply chain professionals. Comparable to PSS as a UK membership organisation offering qualifications, training, and networking within transport (though not port-specific).
- Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH): Chartered professional body for occupational safety practitioners in the UK. Comparable to PSS as a professional membership organisation with standards and training focus, though broader sectoral remit.
Direct peers
- British Ports Association: UK trade association representing port operators and authorities. Highly comparable to PSS as a membership body serving the UK port sector on policy and operational matters; closest functional peer within UK ports.
- Society of Maritime Industries (SMI): UK trade association for the maritime technology and services sector. Comparable as a UK maritime-sector industry membership body with similar advocacy, networking, and event-driven revenue model.
- UK Chamber of Shipping: UK trade association for the shipping industry. Comparable as a maritime-sector membership and advocacy body; already PSS's partner on the Electric Vehicle Maritime Safety Conference.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Port Skills and Safety social profiles
Digital presencePort Skills and Safety financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Port Skills and Safety leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Port Skills and Safety funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Port Skills and Safety M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Port Skills and Safety
What does Port Skills and Safety do?
Port Skills and Safety is the UK port sector's professional safety and skills membership organization, functioning as the standards-setting body for ports. It sells annual memberships (Full, Affiliate, Training Provider, Community tiers), delivers skills programs (apprenticeships, qualifications, national occupational standards), provides safety services (HSE audits, Safety Climate Tool, incident statistics, data dashboard), and runs training courses, conferences, and industry campaigns for port operators and port workers.
Is Port Skills and Safety a public or private company?
Port Skills and Safety is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Port Skills and Safety founded?
Port Skills and Safety was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Port Skills and Safety based?
Port Skills and Safety is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Port Skills and Safety make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership fees are the primary driver. The others are training courses and event tickets and exhibitions.
Who are Port Skills and Safety's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Maritime UK, International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). British Marine is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT UK) and Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Direct peers are British Ports Association, Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) and UK Chamber of Shipping.
Does Port Skills and Safety have an API?
No public API is recorded for Port Skills and Safety.
What industry is Port Skills and Safety in?
Port Skills and Safety's product category is Port Sector Professional Membership and Safety Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAHANAD, Ship & Port Security Audits, Inspections & Certification (Flag/Class/PSC Support). Its NAICS code is 4883 and its SIC code is 4400.