25.03.07
Training to secure future of the region's fishing industry

A group of fishermen from Newlyn and St Ives have got together to address some of the skills shortages within the Cornish fishing industry.

With assistance from Business Link's South West Rural Enterprise Gateway (SWREG), the Sea Skills group are putting local fishermen and crew through specific training courses which will help secure the long term future of the fishing industry in Devon and Cornwall.

Collectively, the group have been able to access funding from SWREG which has enabled them to attend a range of courses including VHF and long wave radio transmission, emergency firefighting and emergency first aid, delivered by the Cornwall Fisheries Resource Centre (CFRC).

Newlyn fisherman, Jake Freethy said, "Marine VHF radio is the best way of summoning help, you can contact the coastguard up to 50 miles off-shore and talk to other boats and yachts up to 20 miles on the open sea. Thanks to the one day course held at the CFRC, I now know the correct procedure for distress, urgency, safety by means of marine VHF DSC radio. This course will also be useful if I ever consider gaining employment in the merchant or marine leisure sectors."

Evonne Amblin, Business Link Project Officer for SWREG Fisheries said, "We often hear about people in the farming industry diversifying, but it is just as important that fishermen have equal opportunities to develop their skill base.

"Up-skilling creates possibilities for career progression within the industry – which also makes it a more attractive sector for people to enter. With initiatives like this we are hoping to directly address some of the problems highlighted in the Objective One Fishing Industry Task Force Strategy for 2010, which draws attention to declining numbers of new workers and a lack of training as weaknesses."

Sarah Henshall, Project Officer for the Cornwall Fisheries Resource Centre added, "We work very closely with local training providers to run courses at times and locations that are more suitable for our fishermen and we will be offering more part funded courses throughout 2007. Partnerships like the one between ourselves and SWREG are really strengthening the industry and helping workers to attain cross sector skills."

The South West Rural Enterprise Gateway is delivered through the Business Link network and aims to help rural businesses access information, training and business development support, using funding sourced through the South West RDA. Specialised support is available to groups of fisheries and marine related businesses in the South West. For more information, contact Evonne Amblin on 0845 600 9966.

For further information contact Adam McPherson, Press Officer for The Marketing-PR Company, on 01566 771861 or email amcpherson@marketing-pr.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Business Link through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Editor's notes:

SWREG is an element of Business Links Gateway service aimed at helping rural businesses in the south west, through access to information, training and business development support.

It is one of the support schemes aimed at helping rural and land based businesses across Devon, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly and administered by the Business Link Agricultural Team. Others include:

• Cornwall Food and Drink Partnership scheme
• Rural Business Support Initiative
• Rural Diversification Capital Grant Initiative
• Rural Directory

Business Link Devon and Cornwall delivers the national Business Link service to the two counties under contract from the DTI's Small Business Service.

Business Link provides a free information and enquiry service via an information gateway on the web www.bldc.co.uk and via the telephone on 0845 600 9966 to all businesses and those considering starting a business.

Business Link has received Objective One investment (European Regional Development Fund and EAGGF) to help companies improve performance and grow.

The South West of England Regional Development Agency was established by government in 1999 to promote the long-term economic success of the region. It does this by working with others to give people the skills they need, encourage enterprise, improve infrastructure, help communities with regeneration and promote the strengths of the region.

The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) is one of the four funds that make up the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which is making £314m available to support the local economy between 2000 and 2006.

EAGGF aims to:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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