A strongly backed campaign to champion seafood careers in the Grimsby area and beyond has launched.
Raising awareness of the vast array of opportunities in the town’s primary industry, a focused programme of activity was unleashed at North East Lincolnshire’s annual skills fair, held this week. Government funding, strong advocacy from one of the industry’s sons in businessman and philanthropist David Ross - who heads an academy trust - and continued efforts from the cluster have led to the concerted push.
More than 1,500 pupils were able to take in the potential choices available to them at the Grimsby Auditorium event, alongside a strong presence for the green agenda and decarbonisation, where Stem subject promotion was key.
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And it comes as the National Centre for Food Manufacturing looks to secure a permanent presence in the town too. A team of five is currently working out of Grimsby Institute, with Humber Seafood Institute understood to be the preferred location for the University of Lincoln satellite, that could then grow.
Val Braybrooks MBE, dean of the faculty, told how the focus was on the Seafood Talent Futures programme as Year 10 pupils from across the borough were given invaluable insights. She said: “This is helping us to promote the new courses and career paths that we have been fortunate enough to receive funding for from Defra to secure higher level skills. There are really great career opportunities on offer to young people, and we’re hoping to turn a trickle of talent into a pipeline that provides a flow into the sector.”
Of the proposals for Grimsby, she added: “We have an ambition to establish a centre here, working towards those plans."
An action plan emerged for greater engagement following a meeting at London’s Fishmongers’ Hall in December last year. It included fisheries director Andrew Wallace, and prime warden, Fred Stroyan, with Mr Ross. The livery company sits on the board of Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance, with the closest secondary school to the cluster’s Grimsby Docks core, Havelock Academy, in Mr Ross' trust. The family is synonymous with fishing and the development of the quayside industry in the town.
Joanne Woodhouse, careers lead at David Ross Education Trust, said “The mutual aim is to provide engagement between businesses and organisations and pupils from the region's schools, and give them the best ever experience of our seafood sector and highlight the career opportunities.
“DRET is delighted to be partnering with The Fishmongers’ Company and Seafood Grimsby & Humber Alliance.”
New England, Young’s Seafood-owning Sofina and Fastnet were three businesses to participate in the morning session, delighting SGHA secretary Simon Dwyer.
He said: “We are connecting the seafood cluster with schools, teachers, parents and careers leaders. We are showing there are dynamic careers in Grimsby, a world-leading trading centre with international supply chains stretching across the world.
“It is not just about cutting fish, there are quality, technical, sales, marketing and engineering roles.
“This is by far the largest engagement the region’s leading seafood cluster has had with our local schools. We’re grateful for Seafish Industry Authority and The Fishmongers’ Company for supporting the event.”
Automation and technological advances were showcased in the mini-pavilion, with heat-sensors and robotic picking from a mini process line. There were also Made Great in Grimsby-branded giveaways for those completing a mini quiz, with information packs for all.
