Direct Seafoods launches new fishmonger apprenticeship scheme

London fish supplier Direct Seafoods has created a dedicated apprenticeship scheme to encourage a new generation of fishmongers.

Developed with Crosby Training, a training advisor in Wolverhampton, and launched in March this year, the fishmonger apprenticeship scheme aims to further enhance the skills and knowledge of wholesale fishmongers and has so far taken on five apprentices across three of its UK sites: North Shields, Colchester, and Fleetwood.

The course is carried out over 12 months and covers modules in the key areas involved in wholesale fishmonger operations, including: food safety, picking and packing, and knife skills.

Each module, tailored to the apprentice’s level of ability, contributes to the qualification of Level Two Fishmonger Diploma upon completion of an assessment.

Support is also available for candidates who have yet to achieve Level 1 and 2 in maths and English qualifications.

One apprentice, Lindsay Bennett who is undertaking her apprenticeship at the North Shields site, said the training she has received so far has been "extremely beneficial". She cited that having a trainer go through the course to help her learn and develop skills, as well as obtain maths and English Level 1 qualifications, "has improved my confidence enormously" and will help her throughout her career.

Direct Seafoods, which is Bidfresh’s specialist fish business, supplies seafood to restaurants and chefs in London and the southeast of England, including Fuller’s pubs and Rekki, an ordering app for chefs.

Neil Poxon, operational support manager at Bidfresh said: “This fresh approach to recruitment will help us not only in achieving our ambitious growth plans but also 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.”