Sustained investment in jobs and skills within remote and rural communities has helped salmon farmer Scottish Sea Farms (SSF) earn Investors in People (IIP) Platinum accreditation.
At the same time, the company has also retained its Investors in Young People Good Practice Award at Gold level and has been accredited with the IIP Health and Wellbeing Good Practice Award.
SSF head of human resources, Tracy Bryant-Shaw, said: “The vast majority of our 440-strong team live in the same communities as they work, over 200 of whom are between 17-28 years of age, so we know first-hand how important it is that skilled jobs and opportunities for career progression exist. By investing across these complementary areas, we’re helping to retain locals, encourage those who have previously left to return, and also attract new faces into these remote rural areas.”
Initiatives
Company attraction, incentive and retention initiatives have included increasing its investment in Modern Apprenticeships; helping shape a new degree-level of Modern Apprenticeship, Level 4, in partnership with skills bodies SQA and LANTRA; and introducing a new company graduate programme which has been rolled out across the sector with the help of the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC).
Additionally, SSF has developed a bespoke course for first-time managers; introduced career progression mapping for every employee; and pays an average salary above that for both Scotland and the UK.
The IIP Health Award recognises SSF's introduction of a dedicated service offering access to an occupational nurse and 24-hour employee assistance programme.
