Learning the trade: apprenticeships and the seafood sector

From a pipeline of new talent in commercial fishing, to passing on the traditional skills of fishmongering - the seafood industry is well-served by apprenticeships.

But while there may be a variety of apprenticeships available, Seafood for Life is marking National Apprenticeship Week 2025 by encouraging more businesses to take advantage of them and highlighting the value they can bring in supporting staff development and boosting productivity.

Combining practical on-the-job training with additional study, apprentices begin at Level 2, or the equivalent of a GCSE, to Level 7, which is equivalent to a degree.  

Funding is available for businesses to help with training costs and the amount depends upon the age of the apprentice.

Benefits to business

“Engaging with apprenticeships can have a hugely positive impact on a business, boosting morale, motivating people and increasing productivity – they are a valuable resource that we want to encourage more businesses to take advantage of,” said Seafish training advisor Richard Wardell.  

They are also an important way of tackling labour shortages, he continued. “Some seafood businesses are struggling to recruit and retain labour. Ten years ago, people from Eastern Europe were coming to work in the UK, but that pipeline of talent has diminished, while many experienced domestic workers are retiring.”    

Offering a suitable apprenticeship alongside a vacancy can tip the balance for a business and attract more suitable applicants, he added.

Apprenticeships can also be an important incentive for existing workers.  

“Although apprenticeships are associated with school leavers, there is no upper age limit for accessing one,” said Richard. “Offering an apprenticeship to older workers may help to retain valuable members of the team.” 

Increasing knowledge

Martyn Beard is site trainer at Associated Seafoods, a large processing company with numerous sites across Scotland. “For us, apprentices are a way of upskilling our staff and increasing their knowledge,” he said.

As well as attracting young people, Martyn agrees that it is important to offer older, existing employees the opportunity to take up an apprenticeship, learn new skills and progress within a business. “Development opportunities are an important way of retaining staff in an industry that has severe labour shortages,” he added.

Around 12% of the company’s 675-strong workforce are currently working towards apprenticeships, most in Fish and Shellfish Operations. There is also a group working towards Graduate Apprenticeships in Business Management.  

“Apprenticeships have grown in popularity over the last three years as people have seen how they have made a difference to colleagues,” said Martyn.

“Staff who have completed an apprenticeship noticeably grow in confidence,” he continued, “and feel able to suggest ways in which we can do things differently. They come back to their day-to-day role after training and can see ways of making changes and running things more efficiently.”

This was true of 30-year-old David Smith, who having completed his Level 2 apprenticeship, saw a way in which the company could stop using plastic liners when boxing their fish. 

The changes have saved the company over £25,000 a year, radically reducing the amount of plastic they use and earning David a promotion.

Sarah O’Connor, owner of The Fabulous Fish Company, a busy fishmongers in Chepstow, has also been delighted at the impact that an apprentice has had on her business. Three years ago, 30 year-old Daniel James signed up to a Fishmongers Apprenticeship, and hasn’t looked back since.

“He’s an absolute gem,” said Sarah. “He can fillet fish and display the shellfish, and he’s got the confidence to open and close the shop when I’m not around; the customers love him, too.”

Sarah learnt about the availability of apprenticeships from Seafish. “I was put in touch with a local training provider, Cwmbran Training, who dealt with all the paperwork, and simplified the whole process, leaving me to get on with running the shop,” she said. “It’s that sort of administrative hassle that has put me off schemes like this in the past.”

A variety of apprenticeships are also available to help businesses in the fish and chip industry, ensuring that their staff have the knowledge and skills to become excellent fish friers. 

Mark Drummond, owner of Towngate Fisheries in West Yorkshire, describes his experience of apprenticeships. Watch the video below:

The Fisher Apprenticeship

One particularly innovative approach to seafood industry apprenticeships has been spearheaded by employers in the South West following the development of a fisher apprenticeship standard by the Cornish Fish Producer Organisation.

South Western Fish Producer Organisation (SWFPO), working with South Devon College and other employers in the south west, launched the ground-breaking Fisher Apprenticeship in 2023. A first cohort started the course in September 2023, with a second cohort of starting in autumn 2024. 

Participants study at the South Devon College Marine Academy’s state-of-the-art facilities. The training is a mix of theory and practical work, including mandatory Seafish qualifications which will enable them to go to sea and safely operate on the vessels.

“As a leading south west Further Education college we see this apprenticeship as being of great importance to the future of the south west’s fishing communities and employers, and we are pleased to have been able to work with local employers and fish producer organisations on its development,” said Adrian Bevin, Head of Curriculum at South Devon College.

Juliette Hatchman, Chief Executive of the SWFPO, which helped to develop the apprenticeship said: “Throughout the 18-month programme, apprentices spend 20% of their time at college and 80% at sea, gaining first-hand experience from seasoned professionals in the industry.

"From an employer’s perspective, hiring an apprentice not only introduces new talent into the industry but also allows fishing businesses to mentor and develop the apprentice’s skills, ensuring they align with their company’s needs.”

Watch a video of Juliette talking about the Fisher Apprenticeship: 

Richard concedes that supporting an apprentice in any part of the seafood industry isn’t without its challenges. “Some can lose interest, while others can drop out to find a job with higher wages,” he said.

Both the apprentices and the employers will need to juggle study with work as well, with around 20% of the learning ‘off-the-job’, which can be difficult when businesses are busy. 

For those businesses that don’t offer apprenticeships, other options are available, such as Seafish’s three-week Introduction to Commercial Fishing training, a Master Fishmonger Standard developed by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers (also known as The Fishmongers’ Company), and specialised training courses for fish frying at both the KFE School of Frying Excellence in Market Deeping and the National Federation of Fish Friers’ Training Academy in Leeds.

For more details about apprenticeships read Richard’s blog, which contains a series of links to tailored information for businesses in England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.