Cemex hosted its first-ever careers open day at St. Mary’s Stadium.

The event, held on Tuesday, September 24, 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 sought to provide career guidance and insights into career pathways at Cemex.

Students learned about Cemex's role in supplying building materials for infrastructure across the UK, and how aggregates are transformed into products like cement, mortar, and ready-mix concrete.

They also discovered Cemex's Sustainability teams' efforts to achieve carbon net zero status by 2050. The event highlighted the diverse uses of minerals, from foods and medicines to toothpaste and water.

A key attraction was the tour of Cemex Go Innovation, the company's flagship vessel, where students were briefed on safety procedures and the operational and engineering activities of Cemex's Marine team.

The event featured exhibitors from across the industry, including The Crown Estate, Wessex Archaeology, The Ship Safe Training Group, Minerals Matter, and Maritime UK Solent.

MP for Southampton and Itchen, Darren Paffey, said: "Bringing together Southampton’s businesses, education providers, civic organisations and of course students is crucial to ensure that we can showcase the many opportunities that being a maritime city can bring.

"As the new Member of Parliament, one of my priorities is to break down barriers to opportunity, so I wholeheartedly support this event and wish the organisers and attendees every success. Here’s hoping it’s the first of many Marine Open Days to come."

Kurt Cowdery, general manager for Cemex’s Marine operations in the UK, said: "We have created this event to ensure these students have real-world encounters with professionals while providing practical insights and essential employability skills. Our collaboration with Solent Careers Hub not only benefits students but also helps us as a business in shaping the skills we need for a more sustainable future.

"We want to introduce the young people to the industry and potential career opportunities that they may not otherwise have known about. We were delighted to welcome the students and hope they all had an enjoyable day whilst also learning more about the opportunities within our industry."