Port development, powering UK trade

Support for ports: Providing clarity in a sea of complexity

Copper supports port infrastructure by helping project teams communicate complex developments, secure planning consents and deliver meaningful engagement, ensuring smooth construction and community backing for the transformation of our international gateways.

Ports are more than just ships and containers – they are gateways to our economy and communities. But keeping goods flowing is about more than cargo and cranes. It is about building lasting trust through communications that support strategic infrastructure and deliver real benefits to communities, such as jobs and economic growth.

This is why we are communicating their value and supporting their development to help unlock new trade corridors, freeport growth and critical transport links. For example, Future Port Talbot, Port of Southampton and Port of Tyne. These projects strengthen the UK’s global competitiveness and help connect regions with economic opportunity.

ABP Ports – Future Port Talbot

Managing corporate communications and stakeholder engagement for Associated British Ports (ABP), Copper supported the transformation of Port Talbot into a major hub for floating offshore wind and green energy. Facing complex proposals and emotive topics, Copper developed a strategic engagement approach. By tailoring communications to diverse audiences, proactively engaging local communities through early-stage drop-in events and framing project benefits in the media, Copper secured crucial project buy-in and generated initial community input, which now actively informs the ongoing master plan process, laying a vital foundation for the port’s green energy future.

Major hub for floating offshore wind

Ports case study - Associated British Ports

Port of Tyne

Copper created a comprehensive communications, engagement and consultation strategy for a world-leading subsea cable facility located at the Port of Tyne that transports renewable energy. We developed a bespoke project website, consultation documents and event collateral to help clearly explain the benefits of the project to the public and key local stakeholders. Working with the port and local combined authority on media relations, we secured widespread, positive coverage for the project, backed by strong advocacy from key local figures. Our work saw minimal opposition to the project, providing a strong context for any eventual application submission.

View more of our port projects

ABP Ports – Port of Southampton

Securing vital stakeholder and community buy-in for the Port of Southampton’s expansion, we launched a cohesive, proactive engagement campaign promoting the port’s critical national and regional role, alongside wider benefits. We used a full suite of communications tactics, maintaining a consistent drumbeat of activity, effectively controlling the narrative and capitalising on the national context for infrastructure investment. These efforts significantly improved relationships with local communities and stakeholders, fostering trust in, and understanding of, the port’s operations, ultimately building recognition for job and skills opportunities and paving the way for future consultation.

Proactive engagement campaign