Catherine Allan, Senior Planner at Sofina Foods, recently took part in the Skills Bootcamp for Future Seafood Leaders which was delivered by the University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing.

“I was asked by my line manager if I would be interested in the Skills Bootcamp to help develop my skills and take on additional duties in my role. I thought it was a great opportunity, as I am still learning and want to improve my communication and leadership skills,” said Catherine. 
 
The Skills Bootcamp for Future Seafood Leaders funded by the Greater Lincolnshire LEP in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council, is designed to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviours of those working in production or operations in the seafood sector.   

“The first topic was fishing processes from trawl caught, line caught and net fishing.  Many different types of fishing were presented which all had their pros and cons. The course explained many of the difficulties in terms of quotas, international relationships and boundaries, and the costs involved. Seeing this side of things made the planning of product more interesting. 

“A guest speaker talked about the purchasing process, which I found fascinating as it was linked to what I do from day to day working in planning and supply chain. The speakers were friendly and engaging and answered any questions that were asked of them.” 

The Skills Bootcamp covered topics such as core production KPIs, health and safety, supplies, budgets and more. This allows learners to expand the scope of their job role and undertake additional responsibilities.  

“The tutor, Dr Andrew Couper, made everyone feel welcome and his enthusiasm made the whole course better. The course has been beneficial, as it has helped me feel more confident and I have now taken additional steps in my job to lead more tasks and to build on communications within the team,” said Catherine.  

“This has encouraged me to focus more on training others and learning to delegate, so that others are able stand on their own two feet too.” 

Details of all available Skills Bootcamps in Greater Lincolnshire can be found at: https://greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/skills