The Bristol Port Company was formed in 1991 when entrepreneurs Terence Mordaunt and David Ord purchased the Port of Bristol from Bristol City Council. Since privatisation over £600 million has been invested to create a modern, thriving business offering the full range of shipping, distribution and logistics services.

With the UK’s Brexit Referendum in 2016 resulting in a vote to leave the European Union, ports across the country have had to adapt to the consequent regulations. Customs, security and health checks will all be a part of the new inspection operations as Britain gears up for the full Brexit implementation. It is yet another investment at Bristol Port to ensure that there is the right infrastructure in place to keep the country trading.

By 1 July 2022 (a date that has been pushed back by a year), all UK ports must meet government guidelines specified in the Border Operating Model (BOM). For The Bristol Port Company, this required new infrastructure on their 2600-acre dock estate – a Border Control Post (BCP). A BCP enables government agencies including Public Health England and APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) to inspect cargoes that have been imported by container from E.U. countries to the UK. Extensive high-tech facilities must be installed on site to perform biosecurity checks on all food and animal products originating from outside the UK. Examples would include meat, fish, prawns, petfood, food contact materials, spices, nuts and dried fruits.

In October 2020, Home Office gave Ports the opportunity to bid for grant funding to construct the necessary facilities in which all Ports received only two thirds of their grant proposal as all other ports, leaving a remaining balance of circa £1 million to be paid from the Port’s own funds. Located at Royal Portbury Dock, the Bristol Port’s BCP was completed July 2021. Despite a late instruction to start and various challenges, Hopgrove Construction managed to complete the works both on time and on budget - both ambitious targets.

David Hopkins, Managing Director of Hopgrove Construction said: “We were delighted to assist The Bristol Port Company with the initial bid for the Port Infrastructure Fund grant and to subsequently have been engaged for the delivery of the project.”

Dan Wilmott, Lead Port Health Officer at the Bristol Port Health Authority said: “Bristol Port Health has worked very closely with the Bristol Port Company and Hopgrove Construction, who have produced a very well-constructed specialist facility in a short timescale.”

The Bristol Port Company has never been afraid to adapt and diversify, as exemplified by extensive investment and development to accommodate the eclectic mix of trades handled at the Port. Therefore, it is safe to say Bristol Port is well-prepared for Brexit’s impact with their Border Control Post.