Fishmonger
Become: Fishmonger
Many individuals get into the industry straight after leaving school and progress through the ranks through hard work and the accumulation of appropriate skills. Apprenticeships are also a good option and popular with young people interested in entering the trade. Competition for places on apprenticeship schemes is usually very fierce so achieving good GCSE grades will stand you in good stead.
Source: Myjobsearch.com
About: Fishmonger
Fishmongers are responsible for preparing and subsequently selling fish and products which conventionally accompany fish.
Fishmongers are extremely skilled individuals who prepare and sell fish to members of the public. In the United Kingdom, we take it for granted that fish will arrive on our supermarket shelves or the refrigerated cabinets of our local fishmonger outlet in an aesthetically pleasing manner, which allows us to forget that the chunky fillet of cod frying in the pan was once a scaly, unpleasant inhabitant of the ocean. However, a lot of work goes into making sure that fish appears this way. Fishmongers spend a lot of time performing preparatory tasks, which may include removing scales and small bones. They will perform these tasks after initially collecting stock and storing it in a safe manner. They will then sell products to the customers and will often advise which are the best cuts of fish to suit particular needs and tastes.
Fishmongers used to have an important place in British society and their stores were a mainstay on every high street across the country. However, during recent years, fishmongers (in common with butchers and bakers) have been pushed aside by the increasing trend of supermarkets opening branches in small villages and towns. As such, many fishmongers now work at specialised fish counters in large supermarkets.
Source: www.myjobsearch.com
Case Study
George Hooper, 20, is a Director and Fishmonger at his family business GCH Fishmongers, in Bedfordshire. The shop provides a selection of fresh fish sourced daily from Newlyn, Grimsby, Billingsgate and Wales.
"After leaving school with a variety of GCSEs, I worked as a regional fish specialist and fish counter trainer for a leading supermarket.
Working in the seafood industry has provided me with many opportunities to meet people across the UK and the rest of the world.
Recently I was named as the youngest ever winner of the British Fish Craft Championships; it was an unforgettable moment for me and one I'll always be proud of.
I'd wanted to work in the seafood sector since I was little, and had big ambitions of helping to run the family business as soon as I was old enough.
You never stop learning in the seafood industry and the knowledge that you develop has to be one of my favourite parts of the job. I would encourage anyone who's considering a career in the industry to take the plunge and do it, there's so much opportunity and room for progression.
One of the key skills that you learn quickly when training to be a fishmonger is how to communicate effectively. For me, being able to speak to customers is probably the most crucial part of the role, as is being confident enough to have faith in your ability - whether in relation to species knowledge or knife skills. It's a great feeling when you are able to go above and beyond to meet the customer expectations and deliver great results.
As director of the company, I've also gained hands-on experience in business management, learning about the buying and selling process and gaining a better understanding of how a business operates whilst doing the job.
Travel is an added bonus to working in this industry, with my next trip planned to Norway, to visit Halibut farms. I'm excited to see what the future will bring and I'm looking forward to even more progression by increasing the number of hotels, restaurants and pubs we supply.
Working in the seafood industry can definitely open doors to a world of opportunity."
Source: www.seafish.org