News

Elementary Food Hygiene

A record number attended our elementary food hygiene course thanks to funding from the Highland Council. 21 booked but after a few unavoidable cancellations we still had a record 14 taking this day long certificated Elementary Food Hygiene course presented by Food Industry Training in The Leven learning Centre for West Highland College UHI, at Kinlochleven, in May 2012. More courses, plus Intermediate courses could be held here in the future. "It was a busy and successful day, with all the candidates participating well, learning and achieving REHIS certificates" said Sally Moore of Food Industry Training (FITA Ltd).

Some of the 14 candidates.

Highland pupils cast off on new maritime skills course

Twelve senior pupils start a new course in maritime skills in Portree this week from six Highland secondary schools.

From Monday 3 October an SQA Skills for Work Maritime Skills Course is being offered on the curriculum to S5 and S6 pupils. The pupils who applied are from Ardnamurchan, Mallaig, Portree, Ullapool, Kinlochbervie and Kilchuimen High Schools will undertake a 3-week residential course at Portree High School.

Recently welcomed by members of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee meeting on 15 September, this initiative, promoted through the Council’s Skill for Life and Work team, aims to offer serious motivation and detailed grounding upon all aspects of maritime skills and seamanship disciplines to those pupils enthusiastic to pursue the growing entrepreneurial/employment opportunities

Pupils that successfully complete the year’s course will gain industry-wide recognised qualifications. The course will equip young Highlanders with immediate employment advantages and enable them to pursue opportunities within the maritime sector, including; Royal Navy, Merchant Marine, commercial fishing, marine sport and leisure, marine engineering and communications.

The Fish Industry Training Association (Highlands and Islands) Ltd (FITA) in partnership with The Highland Council will deliver the inaugural course which is based in Portree High School on the Isle of Skye.

Kilchuimen Pupils & Lachie Paterson

The course comprises three residential block-weeks of practical learning coupled to continuing study periods throughout the academic year. Pupils will receive training in all aspects of boat safety, sea survival techniques, maritime communication, commercial fishing skills, an introduction to navigation, basic marine engineering, first-aid, fire-fighting and fire-prevention disciplines, and sea-food hygiene measures.

Highland Councillor John Laing for the Eilean a’ Cheò Ward commended the introduction of the new SQA Maritime Skills Course and its successful inclusion within the Highland schools’ Higher Education curriculum. He said: “The initial proposal for the course came from Neil Robertson, parent of a Portree High School pupil, whose son was keen to follow a career in fishing. Following his initial enquiry in March this year, the Council’s Education Service acted swiftly to make his idea a reality and the course starts this month.”

Parent, Neil Robertson, who is also Executive Committee member of the Scottish Government’s North West, and Small Isles and Mull Inshore Fisheries Groups said: “The enthusiasm with which my initial enquiry was received was extremely welcoming. Meetings with the Council’s Education Service and F.I.T.A. saw the course take shape. A joint funding agreement for the inaugural course was split between Highland Council’s ‘Skills for Work’ programme and F.I.T.A.”

John Hermse, Chairman of FITA said: “We are delighted that this course is being offered in the Highlands area and this has been one of our long term objectives. There is a strong affinity with fishing and the sea throughout the West and at long last there's a chance for youngsters to attend a course with recognised qualifications for a future career path. Maxine Garson and The Highland Council should be commended for taking the initiative to achieve this end result. Let's hope there will be many such courses to follow.”

Pupils thinking of following a maritime career and who are interested in the Skills for Work Maritime Skills Course SQA should contact: Maxine Garson, School Liaison Officer, Skills for Work 07919 691422 for further information.

Not rowing the boat ashore!

FITA's Sally Moore recieving the Alan Garroway single sculling trophy

Scanmar sensor defeats all comers even Lachie Paterson

The challenge proved popular at the Aberdeen Scottish Skipper Expo show at the end of June and contributed to the money raised for the Fishermen’s Mission. “Calm down Lachie, its meant to de-stress you”

Oban encourages young entrants into industry

OBAN recently played host to a three-week new entrants’ Introduction to Commercial Fishing course, when 11 hopefuls, more than half of them still at school, were put through their paces.

The comprehensive course, organised by the Fish Industry Training Association (FITA) and run in conjunction with Seafish and Seafood Scotland, is designed to ensure that potential crew have a sound idea of what it means to enter fishing as a career.

The first week was devoted to the risks and responsibilities of working on a fishing boat, and trainees were made fully aware of the dangers of life at sea. They were also introduced to mobile and static gear methods, rigging and equipment, and procedures onboard fishing vessels.

A whole day was devoted to ropes, splicing and knot work, and two days to net construction and practical net mending skills. The youngsters were left in no doubt about the length of time they would spend at sea on these mundane but vital tasks!

On week 2, trainees studied navigation, meteorology, effective watch keeping and emergency procedures.

They were also introduced to the workings of diesel engines and vessel operations and maintenance.

An introduction to boat handling theory was supplemented with an optional practical session and a visit to a fishing vessel. Fish identification, handling and storage procedures were studied as well.

Each topic ended with a review and assessment.

Mandatory certificates were covered in Week 3, including sea survival, fire fighting and prevention, first aid, and health and safety.

One young entrant applied to do the course because his dream is to some day purchase his own boat. “It was very beneficial to me because I sometimes work with my uncle on his boat, so now, having done this course, I am legal to work. I had a little experience before but now I am much more confident and qualified,” he said.

Jess Sparks, environmental and technical manager of Seafood Scotland, taught the Care of the Catch module. “Teaching the essentials of fish and shellfish quality, handling and storage, is absolutely essential today. Fishermen need to view their catch as a valuable food source rather than a commodity, and to maximise its value in an increasingly competitive marketplace, with new demands constantly put on them by processors and buyers,” he explained.

“The new entrants’ course is comprehensive and serves as an excellent introduction to people hoping for a career in the fishing industry,” said Lachie Paterson, training co-ordinator for FITA. “Taking it to Oban allowed us to reach a good number of youngsters at the High School who are considering the sea as a career.”

David Mitchell, deputy head of Oban High, was highly complimentary about the course. “The youngsters we encouraged to sign up want to start earning a living as soon as they are 16, so pointing them in the direction of a practical career is ideal,” he explained. “In fact, four of the lads already have jobs lined up on fishing boats as a result of this course.”

David is now considering the possibilities of introducing aspects of the course on a modular basis, to introduce a wider audience to seafaring skills. “Many of the aspects such as navigation, fire fighting, engine maintenance and first aid have wider applications, and we will be gauging interest in these over the coming months,” he said.

12/02/2010 - Courtesy of fishing News www.fishingnews.co.uk

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Please contact Sally Moore for further information and to indicate your interest.

Infection Control Training

New course in "Infection Control Training" available for all staff who may handle food in a care setting, such as care homes, private homes, nurseries, day-care centres, schools, etc.

Please contact Sally Moore for further information and to indicate your interest.

Intermediate Food Hygiene - Now available by E-learning!!

Cut costs in time and money!!

For all Supervisors or small food business Owners/ Managers

'REHIS Intermediate Food Hygiene' is becoming available NOW by supported work and home study.

Learn by working on the inter-active DVD and by reading and studying in your own time.

A personal tutor will mentor and help you, by phone, email and visit if possible; and invigilate your exam.

The fee is currently £350 all-inclusive.

REHIS recommend that you already have the Elementary Food Hygiene certificate, (within 5 years) but other qualifications and experience may exempt you.

Please contact Sally Moore for further information and to indicate your interest.

Scottish Shellfish Training Centre

FITA is now taking bookings for the Bivalve Purifications training courses:

a. The Operations course for all depuration plant and shellfish harvesting staff
b. The 2-day Management course in Depuration
c. The HACCPs for bivalve depuration (REHIS/ Seafish) level 2 course (5 hours)

Throughout Scotland, From May 1st - contact Sally Moore

We can plan courses to suit you.

Contact Sally Moore for further information.

SEAFISH News: Fishermen’s Training

Seafish helps to meet the cost of training

Click here to view this article.

Company Certificates for Food Hygiene Courses!

We can now issue Seafish/REHIS Company candidate-group certificate listing everyone on a particular course. The group certificate will be very convenient and useful for employers as they can display the group certificate rather than the individual certificates, allowing staff to keep their own certificates. There is no extra charge for this service !!

Cookery pupils get lesson on using harvest of the sea

Fishermen and restaurateur show Inverness Royal Academy scholars how it’s done

PUPILS at an Inverness school were taught how to create a gourmet meal from fresh fish and shellfish by fisherman and a city restaurateur yesterday.

Dozens of health and food technology pupils at Inverness Royal Academy watched as lobster, smoked salmon, crab, mussels and langoustines were prepared by Cafe 1 owner and former pupil Norman MacDonald.

Also taking part in the day were representatives from the Mallaig and North-west Fishermen’s Association (MNWFA), who had donated the fish and shellfish.

The course had the personal endorsement of Rural Affairs and Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead.

MNWFA secretary John Hermse said they were delighted to help with the training day which also included a talk on the fishing industry.

He added: “Many people don’t realise the work and danger involved in getting the fish and shellfish on to the table. Many of them might also be uncertain about using fish and shellfish because they might think they won’t enjoy the taste.

“But every time we do something like this, without fail, most of the people involved are pleasantly surprised at how good the final product is and they keep coming back for more.”

Principal teacher of home economics Alison Macdonald said pupils were given information on how the fish and shellfish were caught and handled before it reached the restaurant.

She added: “We have had Norman in the school before, with one of his chefs and he is excellent at getting across the practical skills required, and how the food must be handled to observe health, safety and hygiene rules, and he does it while keeping the youngsters entertained and interested.”

14/11/2008 - Courtesy of The Press & Journal www.pressandjournal.co.uk