Careers boost for east coast industry
18th August 2022
Efforts to introduce a career in fishing to a new generation in Humberside have received a boost, reports Paul Scott.
Hull Maritime has announced that more than 80% of participants who completed its latest Maritime Futures training programme have gone on to gain employment within the maritime sector.
Delivered by East Coast Maritime Training, on behalf of Hull Maritime, the three-week intensive course is designed to support those who are looking to start their career in the fishing industry, or other offshore sectors.
The fourth Maritime Futures cohort has seen 11 young people, aged between 16 and 25, complete the course, with nine securing employment by the end of the course.
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “This is fantastic news for the people who’ve been successful in the training, and I wish them all the very best for their future career.”
To date, the programme, which will offer 100 young people aged 16 to 25 and the unemployed the chance to complete the recognised training, has achieved an overall success rate of more than 75%.
“Huge congratulations also to the Hull Maritime project,” said Mike Ross. “This part of their work provides young people in Hull with the qualifications needed to start a career at sea, as well as supporting them in applying for permanent jobs in the marine sector.
“This is a meaningful and practical way of connecting Hull’s young people with our maritime heritage.”
The accredited course provides vocational training alongside first-hand knowledge from former trawlermen, offering students ‘a real insight to working in these industries’. As well as hands-on skills, trainees also learn about all aspects of the current fishing industry.
Modules include mandatory safety training in firefighting, first aid, sea survival and health and safety along with engineering, radio procedures, watchkeeping and navigation, supplemented by life skills, teamwork and forward planning.
Applications for the next Maritime Futures course, starting on 12 September, are now being taken. For more information, visit: maritimehull.co.uk
Meanwhile, in a further boost to promoting fishing as a viable career choice, Maritime UK has partnered with National Careers Week to ‘inspire the next generation of maritime workers’.
National Careers Week 2023, which runs from 6 to 11 March, aims to enable students to make more informed choices about their future career opportunities.
The maritime sector will be celebrated on a dedicated day during the week to provide information on the career options available for young people looking to explore the sector.
Nick Newman, founder and CEO of National Careers Week, said: “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Maritime UK for the National Careers Week 2023 programme. As the biggest celebration of careers information, education and options in the UK, it’s important to have maritime career pathways and opportunities represented.
“With National Careers Week 2022 delivering a massive online impact of over 350m potential impacts across social media and over 450,000 unique visits to the virtual careers fair, we are all excited for National Careers Week 2023, and the positive impact it will once again have on students across the UK.”
Maritime UK says that throughout the week the platform will be used to promote maritime careers to schools and colleges across the UK, with special events, resources and activities organised for educators to use with students.
For more information, click here.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
