Politics Home Article | Port of Dover: where connection happens

Tan Dhesi MP and Doug Bannister, CEO of Port of Dover, together at Dover Soul 2025

On entering No 10, one of Andy Burnham’s first acts was a round of calls with world leaders signalling his desire to strengthen trade ties, increase economic security, and unlock new opportunities for British businesses. International trade is seldom out of fashion for politicians, and it seems that the new occupant of No 10 remains committed to supporting British businesses that are trading with overseas partners.

As the nation pursues faster economic growth, there is also an increasing recognition that improving productivity can only ever be part of the solution. Businesses must also be able to reach overseas customers quickly, reliably, and competitively. For a trading nation such as the UK, that means that the efficiency of the routes connecting domestic businesses to global markets is an important part of the growth conversation.

“The opportunities created by international trade extend to communities in every postcode,” Doug Bannister, CEO of Port of Dover, told Total Politics. “Helping businesses buy and sell goods with partners overseas boosts growth, creates skilled jobs, and contributes to long-term prosperity while enhancing the UK’s global reputation.

With growth firmly back on the political agenda, international trade is likely to be front and centre during this year’s conference season. In particular, Business Day at the Labour Party Conference will bring together politicians, investors, and employ­ers to explore how the UK can unlock sustainable economic growth through frictionless trading.

“Trade is fundamental to the UK’s growth story,” Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, CBI told Total Politics. “Businesses need fast, reliable connections to customers and markets, and the Port of Dover plays a vital role in making that happen. Strengthening those connections will help firms across the country compete, invest and grow.”

Although economic growth is often discussed in terms of strategies, forecasts and fiscal policy, at the Port of Dover it is measured much more practically. Every lorry heading for the Continent represents a British business reaching new customers, every shipment another manufacturer keeping production lines moving, and every crossing a reminder that the UK’s prosperity depends on remaining connected to international markets. At Dover, growth is not an abstract concept. It is something that passes through its gates every day.

And at the heart of that is the Port’s commitment to create reliable and enduring connections between British businesses, consumers, and overseas partners. Around 10 million passengers pass through the Port each year, alongside more than £144bn of trade, including a third of all goods traded between the UK and the European Union.

It feels appropriate that this year’s Labour Conference is taking place in Liverpool, another city shaped by inter­national trade and maritime connections.

“Liverpool itself is a great trading port that once connected Britain to the wider world,” Bannister says. “There is no better place to reflect on the critical importance of connection than in a city which, like Dover, has always looked outwards to our friends and partners around the world.”

Bannister believes that the UK’s relationships with its trading partners and the ability of businesses to export goods and services are what will underpin good growth. He argues that strategies for economic growth that are grounded in the centrality of trade will always create the great­est probability for success. It is a view echoed by Ben Fletcher, Chief Executive of business group Logistics UK.

“Effective trading partnerships rely on the seamless movement of goods across the UK’s borders,” Fletcher told Total Politics. “For our members, this means a swift, frictionless transition between the UK and the rest of Europe. That is why the investment that has been made at the Port of Dover to speed the movement of logistics vehicles into Europe has been so welcome to help our industry operate as effectively as possible. “

That trade brings benefits across the nation, helping deliver the PM’s stated ambition to see “good growth in every postcode.” The Port of Dover’s impact extends far beyond the Kent coastline. The businesses relying on Dover include manufacturers in the Midlands, food producers in Scotland, retailers in London, and exporters across every region of the UK. Decisions affect­ing the Port ripple across the nation, making it an essential part of the nation’s economic infrastructure.

“Trade doesn’t start and finish at the border,” says Bannister. “It connects busi­nesses, communities and supply chains across every part of the country. Half of the trade coming through Dover is destined north of London, and therefore creates opportunities far beyond the South East, helping UK busi­nesses compete, grow and reach customers in markets across Europe and beyond.”

For millennia, the Dover Straits has been the shortest crossing place to the continent. Dover has always been a place where links are made, and relationships are forged. It is the place where different parts of the economy meet – whether that is exporters, manufacturers, government or people.

That history of connection is not just what Dover does. It is also hardwired into the way that it works. It is why, once the conference hall has cleared after Business Day, the Port of Dover will be hosting its annual Dover Soul reception.

In a sense, Dover Soul reflects the wider role the Port plays throughout the year. It provides a space for conversations to continue, new relationships to be formed, and ideas to be tested. Like the Port itself, it is ultimately about making connections.

“Some of the most valuable conver­sations at conference happen after the formal programme has ended,” Bannister explains. “Once the speeches are over, busi­ness leaders, policymakers and industry representatives need an opportunity to compare notes, challenge assumptions, and explore new partnerships. Our Dover Soul event provides an informal forum to do just that.”

Email [email protected] to register for updates about the upcoming Dover Soul Business Day Afterparty – in the Mersey Suite of the Pullman Hotel from 21:15 on Monday 28th September