PORTAKABIN, part of the York-based Shepherd Group, employs 1,400 people and invests in a range of educational projects, including business placement programmes for schools, mentoring design and technology students and giving talks and factory visits.

Steve Botham, operations manager, said: “Our organisation is fairly unique as it has a number of disciplines under one roof – product development, IT, marketing, sales, logistics, purchasing, manufacturing and HR. This enables us to introduce students to a number of what are effectively ‘small businesses’ and possibly careers which they might not have considered previously.”

Steve is also a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) ambassador, speaking to primary and secondary schools.

The business also supports Engineering Inspirations, an event which celebrates the skill, ingenuity and imagination of young people across York and North Yorkshire.