Mowi and Kintyre Seasports launch maritime careers development programme

Kintyre Seasports is delighted to announce a collaboration with Mowi for an ambitious new programme developed to train local young people for maritime careers and attract business from an industry facing an acute skills shortage.

The Seafarers scheme builds on the highly successful sail and powerboat training programme delivered by Kintyre Seasports in partnership with Campbeltown Grammar School. Since 2022, 120 CGS pupils have been introduced to sailing, 60 have internationally recognised RYA qualifications and six can qualify as Dinghy Instructors as early as May next year.

Mowi will provide Kintyre Seasports with a fast coded workboat, become a customer, and assist other business development via its industry network.

Dougie Hunter, Mowi Scotland Technical Director, said: “We are very impressed with the Kintyre Seafarers concept. It is an excellent fit with our existing presence in the Campbeltown area and our local development plans for Sanda Island, which, should permissions be granted, will create a further 14 new jobs, including apprentice positions. With this vessel in place, Mowi will use Kintyre Seasports as its training provider for any of the maritime skills which could be provided locally in Campbeltown, but especially the RYA Advanced Powerboat course. We will also encourage other local aquaculture and supply companies to utilise the Kintyre Seafarers programme.”

Campbell Fox, Chair of Kintyre Seasports, added: “This is a truly game-changing commitment by Mowi for our project and the community. With new commercial coding regulations coming in next year, the cost of a new vessel would have been prohibitive. Mowi’s exceptionally generous offer gives us a huge boost and greatly helps to develop our existing education, employability and community support programmes. In particular it will open doors for young people without academic qualifications in an industry with a crying need for qualified seafarers.”

As a very welcome bonus, the new vessel will be equipped to facilitate the marine environmental studies planned by the Kintyre Seasports partnership with the Scottish Association of Marine Sciences (SAMS). Mowi can also contribute in-kind support through its professional environmental team members.

Campbell Fox continues: “The new partnership with Mowi is a wonderful fit with the link between Campbeltown Grammar School and the SAMS Schools Outreach Programme. Now we can look forward to extending the programme in more ways than we thought feasible when the pilot environmental study was scoped.”

Kirsty Donnelly, Head Teacher, sees Kintyre Seasports building skills and qualifications many young people at Campbeltown Grammar School could not otherwise achieve: “This growing partnership and the commitment from Mowi will enable us to plan new curriculum developments to match aquaculture career opportunities. We look forward to welcoming university links and workplace collaboration with Mowi’s support in presenting opportunities for young people to progress on to the world of work.”

The Kintyre Seafarers programme was conceived during informal discussions involving the local Harbour Authority, who have consistently supported the wider project, and George Fleming, Chair of the John Mather Trust, a major funding contributor to Kintyre Seasports and long-term sponsor of the Campbeltown Brass Band. Prof. Fleming and the John Mather trustees have believed in the potential of the project from inception: “The John Mather Trust congratulates Kintyre Seasports on this latest news of industry support for the project. The Trust continues to fully support the initiative to create a seafaring future for the youth of Campbeltown and beyond.”

Jenni Minto, Scottish Government Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, is a strong supporter of the project. She added: “In my time as Argyll and Bute’s MSP I have been continually impressed by Kintyre Seasports in all they do to build relationships in their community and with businesses to promote maritime activity.

“This is such an exciting opportunity and working with Mowi could be a real standout community partnership.”