A new training course, funded by our Fisheries Charitable Trust in partnership with The City and Guilds Foundation, aims to showcase career opportunities across the seafood sector in England’s Northeast, recruiting more local people into stable, lucrative, and rewarding careers in seafood.
Delivered by our charitable partners CatZero and Seafood Grimsby & Humber, alongside the Department for Work and Pensions, the programme has already seen participants secure careers in the seafood industry.
The first course – “Women into Seafood” – ran on 14th to 16th of June 2022. Delivered by the charity CatZero in partnership with the Grimsby Fish Merchants Association, the three-day course provided attendees a mix of hands-on training in seafood processing, alongside IT, marketing sale and procuring, plus site visits, and discussions with local business leaders.
Leia Wright, a 23 year old CatZero participant, who was introduced to the programme as part of her Universal Credit Assessment, has now found employment at Alfred Enderby, one of Grimsby’s oldest seafood businesses. Leia explained “The first day I met them and the very next day I was on a course, being helped to get skills to get employment…The Women in Seafood introduction led me to the job, I really felt that last little push helped me”.
Partick Salmon, owner of Alfred Enderby, was full of praise for their new recruit “She showed interest, and contacted us afterwards, which was impressive. While we weren’t particularly looking, there was an opportunity to offer some work, and we’d offered to interview anyway to give experience…She is very enthusiastic, takes on instructions very well and is productive. She has taken to the work in the salmon packing room, and she’s brilliant, we’re thrilled to have her.”
Pete Tighe, Operational and Partnership Manager for CatZero said: ““Leia has grown in confidence and motivation – the programme has got her inspired in the seafood industry. The opportunity was given to her and she’s taken it….The programme was a fantastic opportunity for unemployed people from the Grimsby area to learn about the opportunities open to them with the Seafood industry, that are right on their doorstep”.
Alongside local business leaders and large processors, Emma McKeating, certified Advanced Fishmonger, joined the course to share just how varied and interesting the life of a real @girlyfishmonger can be.
The Grimsby and Humberside region handles bulk of seafood imported and processed in the UK, employing over 6,000 people, and offering real opportunities for a diverse range of professional careers.
Speaking about the course, Polly Rowe, from City & Guilds Foundation said: “The City & Guilds Foundation is passionate about supporting people with barriers to develop their skills. We’re delighted to be funding this exciting programme, alongside The Fishmongers’ to get more local individuals in the North East in to secure and sustained employment.”
© The Fishmongers’ Company 2024
