CEMEX held its first-ever Career Open Day at St. Mary’s Stadium.
The event, held on Tuesday 24th September, was attended by students from local schools and colleges in Southampton.
The aim was to introduce students to CEMEX’s UK business and the wider mineral products industry.
In partnership with Solent Careers Hub and Southampton City Council, the open day aimed to provide career guidance and insight into career paths at CEMEX.
Students learned about CEMEX’s role in supplying building materials to infrastructure across the UK and how aggregate is processed into products such as cement, mortar and ready-mixed concrete.
It also confirmed the commitment of CEMEX’s sustainability team to achieve carbon net zero by 2050. The event highlighted the diverse uses of minerals, from food and medicine to toothpaste and water.
A key attraction was a tour of the company’s flagship vessel, Cemex Go Innovation, where students were briefed on safety procedures and the operational and engineering activities of Cemex’s marine team.
The event attracted exhibitors from across the industry including The Crown Estate, Wessex Archeology, The Ship Safe Training Group, Minerals Matter and Maritime UK Solent.
Southampton and Itchen councilor Darren Puffey said: “Bringing together Southampton businesses, education providers, civil society and of course students will ensure we showcase the many opportunities that being a maritime city offers. It is extremely important to ensure that this happens.”
“As a new Member of Parliament, one of my priorities is to break down barriers to opportunity, so I wholeheartedly support this event and wish the organizers and participants every success. I hope it’s the first of the ocean open days.”
Kurt Cowdery, general manager of CEMEX’s UK marine business, said: “We are ensuring these students have real-life encounters with professionals, while providing practical insight and key employability skills. We created this event to do more than just benefit.’ It helps to shape the skills needed for a more sustainable future, not only for students but also for businesses.
“We want to introduce young people to our industry and career opportunities they might not have known about otherwise. We welcome our students and hope they have a fun day out and We hope that you have learned more about the opportunities within our industry.”
