Sea Fisher Apprentice

Job Ref: KO2004721

Pay Rate: From £10,982.40 (plus catch bonuses)
Hour Per Week: 40.0
Working Pattern: Shift work on a fishing vessel
Closing Date: 13 August 2023

As an Apprentice Sea Fisher you will get to work as part of a team both on and offshore, testing yourself in all kinds of weather, chasing down your catch and selling fish and shellfish at the harbour.

You will also learn to make decisions such as: which fish to catch, how, where to catch them and the best places to sell them.

This is a physical job but is extremely rewarding and, through further training, can lead to careers such as skipper (up to £60,000 a year) or marine engineer (up to £55,000 a year).

What’s more, you’re likely to make friends for life! A typical day as a fisherman includes:
• Ensuring the safe navigation of the vessel
• Making sure the fishing equipment is fitted and mended to the correct standards
• Storing fish following health and safety protocol
• Interacting with boat owners, crew members and harbour masters
• Logging all details necessary
• Most importantly, tracking down and catching fish!

You will also have the opportunity to work on several different fishing vessels throughout this apprenticeship.

By working with different crews, on different vessels, catching different produce, you will have a wide understanding of the fishing industry and better idea of where you want to specialise after your apprenticeship – whether that’s out at sea or on shore. You also likely to be in high demand across the industry because of your experience across different vessels!

What's more you will also have the chance to collect data for scientists to make sure policies are always kept up to date for future sea fishers.

This is a physical job, where you will be away from home on a vessel for up to five days at a time.

Valuable characteristics include:
• Being able to get on with people in close quarters is a must.
• Sociable
• Able to show attention to detail
• Enjoy problem solving
• Flexible with working hours and holidays
• Organised
• Able to work in all weathers
• Able to handle stressful situations
• Wanting to develop leadership skills

If you haven’t been out to sea before, but are interested – please do still apply. The above list of characteristics are transferable skills. You will get to assess if this is the right opportunity for you at a taster day in August.

You must also pass an ENG1 medical assessment to work on a vessel (after being accepted onto the programme). Whilst not essential, it is desirable for you to have either a GCSE or equivalent in both English and Maths (Grade E/2) too.

NB - The postcode for this vacancy is where the college course is delivered. You can be based anywhere in the UK, but must be able to travel to harbours in Devon to board vessels for 5-days overnight fishing. When you attend college your accommodation costs will be covered.

If you are applying from overseas, and do not have the right to work in the UK, you will not be eligible for this position unfortunately.

Even before the apprenticeship starts, we will train you.

After an initial chat to check this is the right opportunity for you, we’ll run an taster day in August where you’ll get to go on a vessel, see a fish market and take part in some fun team building exercises.

Once you’re on the apprenticeship, you’ll spend paid time at South Devon College gaining further qualifications such as:
• Sea Survival
• 1 day Seafish Fishermen’s basic firefighting and prevention or 2 day STCW Fire Fighting and Fire Prevention
• 1 day Seafish Fishermen’s basic first aid or STCW Elementary First Aid
• 1 day Seafish Basic Health and Safety
• Certificated 5 day Seafish Navigation and Watchkeeping course
• Certificated 5 day Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) Approved Engine Coure
• Certificated 1 day Seafish Stability Awareness for Experienced Fishermen course
• Certificated 1 day Seafish Advanced Stability Awareness course
• Certificated Royal Yacht Association VHF Short Range Certificate

This really is a fantastic opportunity to start a rewarding and well paid career, whilst being paid to gain loads of certificates and experience. You really will be in high demand after completing this apprenticeship.

This is a flexi-job apprenticeship, which means you will get to work with multiple employers to gain a deep understanding of where your future career in maritime lies. You will complete a Level 2 Fisher Apprenticeship.

You will also receive:
• Four weekly pay (including at college)
• 5.6 weeks paid leave per year
• Mentoring support to help you settle into your role, get the most out of the apprenticeship, and provide future careers advice and guidance
• A chance to network and compare experiences with other apprentices in your cohort