John achieves a national first

John McCulloch, hailing from Unst, is the first individual in the UK to successfully complete the pioneering Aquaculture Management professional development programme, created by the NAFC Marine Centre UHI. John finished the Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management just over a year and a half after its inception, while serving as the assistant site manager at Cooke Aquaculture Shetland’s Quoys salmon hatchery in Unst. He expressed that the apprenticeship was highly informative and engaging, and commended the expertise of the NAFC staff who guided him throughout the programme. He also acknowledged the support from his employer. He believes that the programme will enable him to continue contributing to Cooke Aquaculture's production of what he considers the best salmon in the market. He also emphasized the significance of the industry to the Scottish economy and its role in sustaining and supporting rural communities like Shetland. He highly recommends the apprenticeship to anyone who has the opportunity to undertake it. Stuart Fitzsimmons, the course leader, stated that John's completion of the apprenticeship is a significant achievement for the programme, which was initiated by NAFC in March 2017. The Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management was created to cater to the training needs of aquaculture company managers and to provide career advancement opportunities for staff who have completed Modern Apprenticeships. The programme allows senior aquaculture staff to earn a management qualification while working in the industry and enhancing their existing knowledge, experience, and skills. The distance learning format, supported by NAFC staff, allows individuals from all over Scotland to undertake the training at their convenience, without the need to attend college classes. Stuart commended John for his excellent performance throughout the apprenticeship. He noted that John has shown proficient management skills in areas such as hatchery production, fish health and welfare, Health & Safety, and human resources. He expressed his delight at John's successful completion of the apprenticeship. Davie McMillan, the manager of the hatchery where John is employed, expressed his happiness for John. He noted that John has put in a lot of effort into the apprenticeship, as he has in all his other courses. He believes that it will be beneficial for John when he takes over from him upon his retirement. He praised the apprenticeships offered by NAFC as a significant asset to their industry, particularly to the freshwater sector where a more technical and scientific approach is needed from egg to smolt production. He also commended the excellent administrative support provided by NAFC staff. He believes that this training provides anyone entering the industry with the opportunity to advance within a rapidly growing sector. The technical apprenticeship is designed for experienced senior-level fish farm staff, allowing them to earn a degree-level qualification in aquaculture management while working in the industry. The programme covers both technical aquaculture-related topics, such as fish farm production management, fish health maintenance, and the maintenance of a safe, healthy, and productive environment, as well as management topics such as financial management, personnel management, and operational planning. Upon completion of the programme, students receive a Lantra Technical Apprenticeship at SCQF Level 9 and an SQA Scottish Vocational Qualification at Level 4 (equivalent to an Ordinary Degree), plus additional short course certificates. Currently, NAFC has 25 other senior aquaculture staff from across Scotland enrolled in the Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management. An additional 48 students are enrolled in the Centre’s Modern Apprenticeship’s in Aquaculture at Levels 2 and 3. Complete details of NAFC’s Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management and its other aquaculture apprenticeships and training courses can be found at: www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/aqua.