The article was first published on fiskerioghavbruk.no
In 2016, the cluster started Seafood Trainee, Norway's first trainee program for the seafood industry, and has already established itself as a recognized brand within the industry.
– This program has been a great success, and has helped companies attract young talent and impulses. Seafood Next is partly based on the foundation we laid there, says Benedicte Skogen, Competence Manager at NCE Seafood.
Assists new employees
While Seafood Trainee aims to make the industry attractive and attract the best graduates, Seafood Next will build the competence of those who are new to the industry.
– Seafood Next is an international competency program for new employees in the industry. The goal is to teach candidates about the entire value chain within the fisheries and seafood industry, as well as leading trends within the industry, says Benedicte.
Companies that had participated in Seafood Trainee indicated that they needed a training program for new employees.
– We also discovered that there is a general need to learn more about the industry, both for established companies, start-ups, capital players, and those working in research and education, she explains.
Gives good yield
The first cohort began training in September 2020, and the program spans one year. Participants meet four times for three-day sessions. Seafood Next is open to anyone who wants or needs training in the seafood industry.
Nikolas Kallas, Product Manager at Aquabyte, is one of the participants in the first cohort. He came from his job as VP Product at StormGeo, a global provider of weather forecasting services. He holds a Master's degree in Information Science from UiB and has further education from Stanford University.
– The invitation to Seafood Next came at a perfect time. I have a relatively short career in the seafood industry and have the need and desire to learn as much as possible. Through the program, I have gained insight into the challenges and opportunities directly from the key players in the seafood industry, says Nikolas.
The first Seafood Next gathering gave Nikolas professional input and the opportunity to build networks in the industry.
– This is a great arena to be present at. Here you get good insight into how the industry works, while also having the opportunity to meet other participants who often have experience with several of the issues. It is very useful, and the learning curve is steep, he explains.
Starting a new program
There is great interest in the program and a new cohort starts on May 26, 2021. If this is interesting to you, please do not hesitate to contact me, says Benedicte Skogen
Contact:
Benedicte Skogen, Competence Manager at NCE Seafood
benedicte@seafoodinnovation.no / Tel. 906 299 56
