Direct Seafoods develops fishmongers with apprenticeship scheme

Bidfresh business Direct Seafoods is offering skills development for its new and more experienced fishmongers with a dedicated apprenticeship scheme.

Three of the five apprentices from three Direct Seafoods sites, including Taylor Foods in North Shields.

There are currently five students, across three Direct Seafoods sites, enrolled on the bespoke scheme, which was developed with Crosby Training.

The course is carried out over 12 months and covers modules in the key areas involved in wholesale fishmonger operations. These include food safety, health & safety, picking & packing, and knife skills. On completion of an assessment, each of these modules contributes to a Level Two Diploma.

Extra support is available for candidates to achieve their Level 1 and 2 Maths and English qualifications if they have not already attained them.

Neil Poxon, operational support manager at Bidfresh, commented: “I’m delighted that Direct Seafoods is utilising this great initiative. It’s something I’m thrilled to be able to offer our current and future employees and I am incredibly passionate about seeing it succeed.”

He added: “This fresh approach to recruitment will help us not only in achieving our ambitious growth plans but also in providing sustainable, progressive careers for those involved in the scheme moving forward, helping us to retain and develop the fantastic talent we have within our business.”

Lindsay Bennett, who is currently enrolled on the apprenticeship, said: “The training we have received so far has been extremely beneficial. Having a trainer go through the course in person rather than online has made it much easier to take things in and has improved my confidence enormously.

“The course is also giving me the opportunity to obtain my Maths and English L1 qualifications which, along with the skills I’m acquiring, will be extremely valuable throughout my career.

“This scheme has made me excited about the future and I hope that soon it’ll be me teaching the next wave of apprentices!”

In October last year, Direct Seafoods won the Marine Stewardship Council Award for Fresh Fish Foodservice Supplier of the Year.