Joe Hembrough has successfully converted his passion for sustainable seafood into an apprenticeship with The Menai Seafood Company in Bangor.
His seafood interest began when he worked on the fish counter at a major retailer which encouraged him to seek a job where he could find out more about sustainably sourced fish.
He volunteered at The Menai Seafood Company before securing his dream job as a fishmonger/manager and being enrolled on an Apprenticeship in Fish and Shellfish with Cambrian Training Company.
“I am delighted that all the hard work that I have put in to my apprenticeship is paying off. Cambrian Training have been amazing at teaching me about the industry that I work within, and I’ve learnt so much.”
Looking to the future, he hopes to progress to a Higher Apprenticeship in Food Manufacturing Excellence and would like to mentor new employees.
Such is Joe’s passion for his job that he chose to research six units of principles instead of the usual two for his apprenticeship, and his work is described as “outstanding”.
One of Joe’s greatest attributes is the ability to talk with customers about sustainable products, loving nothing more than changing public perception on under-utilised and under-fished seafood.
He sees it as his responsibility to inform customers of the need for the seas to be fished responsibly and to promote underused seafood.
“I would really like to be able to use the knowledge I have obtained to help new employees with an interest in being part of the seafood industry.
“I must say a massive thankyou to Mark and James, owners of The Menai Seafood Company, for employing me and helping me pave a career within the seafood industry.”
Joe’s passion for seafood and desire to learn everything about the industry, from recipe development to marine biology, has impressed Chris Jones, head of the food and drink business team at Cambrian Training Company.
“I have no doubt that the sky’s the limit for Joe and I am proud that Cambrian Training will be part of his journey,” says Chris
