10th, February 2026
Founder Reflections: Kevin Shakesheff MBE
When Kevin Shakesheff co-founded High Tide in 2012, his conviction was simple: young people in our region had as much talent and ambition as anywhere in the country — they just needed the door opened.
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He set about connecting young people to the maritime sector, introducing a world of opportunity in Teesside and beyond.
Over a decade later, with thousands of students reached and hundreds of businesses involved, that founding vision feels more urgent and more alive than ever.
“What excites me most right now is the momentum. The businesses stepping up, the schools trusting us, and above all, the young people who walk into a workplace for the first time and discover something in themselves they didn’t know was there. That moment never gets old.”
Kevin Shakesheff, Co Founder
Kevin is currently Chairman and former Managing Director of Casper Shipping, a leading UK maritime services provider and High Tide Corporate Partner.
Kevin was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2024 for Services to Young People in Business and to the Maritime Industry in his role as Co-Founder of the High Tide Foundation and former Trustee, President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and Education Fund.
Kevin Shakesheff MBE and High Tide Students
