Course Information
Apprenticeships provide training and development for young people aged 16 - 24 years, (to enrol before their 25th birthday) who wish to enter the catching sector of the fishing industry.
Apprenticeships are based on achievement and not time being served. Therefore at the commencement of an Apprenticeship an Individual Training Plan is agreed with each Apprentice and the company. This plan will specify a duration that will allow the Apprentice a reasonable prospect of successful completion of the programme. The training plan will be reviewed at regular intervals and the duration of the Apprenticeship may change as a result of these reviews.
The Apprenticeship is aimed at those newly entering the fishing industry and aspiring to reach the first milestone on a fishing vessel, i.e. to become a competent deckhand. As a deckhand, the job requires a range of individual and team responsibilities.
A typical job role may include being:
a member of one of the bridge watch teams – steering, lookout, contributing to safe navigation
a member of the deck team – operating and maintaining deck and fishing gear, handling and stowing the catch, operating deck machinery
responsible for the care and control of the catch
assisting with all aspects of vessel maintenance
The Apprenticeship will lead to:
N.V.Q. certificate in Deck Hand (Sea Fishing) – Level 2
Technical Certificate
Certificates in First Aid, Fire Fighting, Sea Survival and Health & Safety for New Entrants (Sea Fish Industry Authority)
Key Skills Level 1 in Problem Solving, Application of Numbers, Communication and Working with Others.
VHF GMDSS radio licence
Other extra-curricular courses such as Care of the Catch, Vessel Stability, Diesel Engine Maintenance. etc. are available – a successful apprentice can expect to achieve 12-15 certificates during his/her training.
A training allowance is available for Apprentices and is payable on a weekly basis. Subsistence and/or travelling allowances are also payable in appropriate cases. Apprentices living away from home will have their bed, breakfast and evening meal paid directly to their landlady/landlord.
The company accepts applications from all areas of the United Kingdom.
It should be noted that exceptionally, the Apprenticeship is non-employed. That is to say, Apprentices will not be employed and on a pay-roll. Lodgings, travel, safety equipment, and allowances are paid by the company to support the Apprentice during training.
Together with the skippers, the school runs an Incentive Scheme to encourage Apprentices to work hard and complete their qualification. Basically, once an Apprentice is at sea and begins to learn the necessary skills, the skipper, who cannot pay the Apprentice (as he will be receiving a training allowance) will send a cheque to the school on behalf of the Apprentice. This will be saved on his behalf and will be presented to the Apprentice once he has completed his Apprenticeship in full.
The scheme is designed to suit the requirements of the Apprentice and as such they are given an appropriate length of time to complete in which time they will be expected to complete a portfolio of evidence of work tasks. Key/Functional Skills will also need to be successfully completed
