© Salmon Scotland
As part of Scotland Food and Drink’s “Apprentice for a day” series for Feeding Workforce Skills, Salmon Scotland chief executive Tavish Scott partnered with Mowi to experience a day as an apprentice at the Croabh Haven salmon farm near Oban, Argyll. During his experience on the front lines of salmon farming, Scott shadowed colleagues as they carried out their daily tasks.
During his visit, Tavish worked closely with Sean Conachan, an assistant manager at Kilbrannan, who himself advanced through Mowi’s apprenticeship scheme. Sean began his career as a farm technician and progressed after completing a Scottish vocational qualification (SVQ) in aquaculture. Showing Tavish the ropes, he highlighted various aspects of fish health management, emphasising the importance of regular inspections and how to carry out fish health and gill checks.
With technology playing an increasingly important role in the aquaculture setor, Tavish also met Rebecca Burns, a feed technician at Croabh Haven. Rebecca is currently undertaking a level 3 SVQ in aquaculture and demonstrated the use of underwater cameras to monitor fish behaviour and track their feeding patterns. Rebecca’s work in her apprenticeship has allowed her to experience various aspects of the sector, encouraging her to think about the broader operations involved in salmon farming and advance her career within the aquaculture sector.
“We need more people coming to work in the Scottish salmon sector and that’s why apprenticeships are so important for our future. It’s why our companies like Mowi spend time and make great commitments to bringing new people into the industry, no matter what their background is or what stage of life they’re at,” said Scott, in a press release.
The experiences of Sean and Rebecca exemplify how investing in apprenticeships can unlock new opportunities for individuals and play a crucial role in the future success of the sector.
