Ships agent Joe Melvin loves his job, but it is not one he expected to be doing.

Finishing a sports studies degree nearly four years ago, Melvin started work in his father’s building company while he hunted around for a career with prospects — something he says can take up to a year in north-eastern England, where he lives.

A nudge from his ships agent brother Dan alerted him to a starter position in the same Graypen office in Teesport, and he signed up.