Making Aquaculture MA More Accessible

Argyll College UHI has added to its team with a part-time SVQ/MA Assessor for Aquaculture, meaning it is now able to offer Modern Apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3.

The move is designed to help meet sector appetite for skills-based qualifications, with Scottish Sea Farms being the first of the country’s salmon farmers to enrol employees.

Scottish Sea Farms’ Head of HR, Tracy Bryant-Shaw, explained “Already, more than 85 of our employees have undertaken an Apprenticeship, either via the NAFC Marine Centre UHI in Shetland or Inverness College UHI, and we have a further 30 employees on the waiting list. Now, thanks to Argyll College UHI, many of those will be able to get started.”

The development is just one of a series of skills initiatives that Scottish Sea Farms and Argyll College UHI have been collaborating on over the last 18 months. Also in the pipeline is a new schools programme with Oban and Tobermory High Schools aimed at raising awareness of salmon farming as a career choice. In addition, the College is planning a new dedicated Marine Industry Training Centre.

Argyll College UHI’s Head of Curriculum, Don Mitchell, is currently seconded to the role of Project Manager for the new Centre. “Our strategic direction is to support the maritime and aquaculture sectors across Argyll and beyond. Our planned new Marine Industry Training Centre at Dunstaffnage in Oban will allow us to offer a whole range of training geared specifically for these sectors.”

Argyll College UHI offers a range Modern Apprenticeship programmes throughout the region in partnership with local employers.

For more information on the range of modern apprenticeships and other qualifications available visit www.argyll.uhi.ac.uk