Employment minister pledges to look at how job centres can encourage people to work in north-east seafood processing sector following labour shortages

The UK Government Minister for Employment has pledged to look at how job centres can do more to encourage local people to work in the seafood processing sector following a meeting with industry bosses in Aberdeen recently.

Guy Opperman MP, accompanied by Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid, met industry representatives including Jimmy Buchan, Chief Executive of the Scottish Seafood Association, amid concerns about labour shortages and sourcing local workers.

Issues such as improving connections between local centres and the seafood processing industry were discussed at the meeting, held at Joseph Robertson Ltd in Aberdeen.

The discussions come after the UK Government awarded more than £6.5 million to modernise and expand seafood processing facilities in Banff and Buchan last month – about a third of the amount of that came to Scotland in this latest round of funding.

Mr Opperman takes a closer look at the processing industry.

Following the meeting, Mr Duguid, who regularly meets with the industry and the UK Government on the challenges faced by the sector, said: “The issue of attracting local people into the sector is a longstanding one – particularly with such low unemployment in the area and competition from other industries such as oil and gas and the burgeoning renewables sector.

“The discussions around how local job centres in Peterhead and Fraserburgh can form better connections with the industry were extremely positive and I look forward to seeing a difference in this in the future.

“It’s vital our processing sector keeps pace with increasing demand at home and abroad while boosting production and building a resilient industry for the future.

“This is why I welcomed the minister’s pledge for the DWP to help our industry with the people, training and support it needs in the north-east to help ensure our region remains world leaders in seafood production.”

​Round the table: The Minister meets with industry representatives.

Mr Opperman said: “It’s key we support and sustain a vital local industry that provides hundreds of jobs and helps feed the nation.

“I learnt a lot, listened a lot, and took away action points and a renewed intensity for the local DWP team to help the industry with the people, training and the support it needs to prosper.”