Job market information
Finding out about fish processing
The fish processing industry is part of the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector, represented by Improve Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: bakery; animal feed; beer; confectionery; dairy; meat; and soft drinks. The sector as a whole currently employs 460,000 people in more than 11,100 workplaces and 15,800 retail baker, butcher and fishmonger outlets. 24% of the workforce is employed in the bakery industry and 21% in meat industry. At a regional level, 14% of the workforce is located in the North East, 13% in Yorkshire and Humberside, plus 13% in the East Midlands.
The UK fish processing industry covers the freezing of fish and other fish processing and preserving activities. The industry employs more than 15,800 in more than 400 workplaces across Great Britain. There are many well‐known companies, such as Birds Eye, International Fish Canners, Lyons Seafood and Young’s Seafood.
Key facts:
- There are more than 15,300 people working in the fish industry, representing 4% of those employed in Great Britain’s food and drink manufacturing sector.
- 82% of the workforce in located in Scotland and Yorkshire and Humberside.
- 4% of businesses employ 200 or more staff, 59% employ 10 or less staff.
- 47% of the current workforce will be eligible for retirement within the next 20 years.
- 7% of the workforce has a degree or equivalent qualification.
- The highest qualification for the majority of the workforce is GCSE grades A‐C (19%) or A Levels (22%).
- 17% of the workforce has no qualifications.
- 90% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
- There has been significant growth in the sale of chilled and frozen Pollock, and fresh mussels.
Jobs in the industry range from: refrigeration engineer, development technologist, buyer, fish‐filleter, smokehouse operative, packer, canner.
Entry and progression
Entry to the industry can be through academic qualifications, training schemes or direct entry via employment. There is a range of industry endorsed courses (at foundation and undergraduate level), apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, training schemes and Diplomas available. Previous relevant work experience can be an advantage for those wishing to enter the industry.
There are two main job areas for those wishing to transfer in to the industry: operations (i.e. roles within the manufacturing and processing sectors); and, generic management (e.g. health and safety, quality, HR, change management etc.)
There are good opportunities for progression in the industry, but higher qualifications, training and experience are required. For more advanced job roles, there are specific degrees that would help with progression. For instance, whilst a degree in Food Science is not an entry requirement to get a job as a Food Scientist/Technologist, it would help with career progression.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Please note that due to the implementation of the Qualifications and Credit Framework, the qualifications available are subject to change significantly during 2010. For more information contact your awarding body or log onto Improve Ltd. 
Workforce statistics
| Number of Great Britain employees: |
15,300 |
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| Number of Great Britain employers: |
400 |
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| Gender: |
65% male |
35% female |
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| Ethnicity: |
89% of the workforce is white, 7% Asian/British Asian and 4% other minority background. |
More than 2,600 migrant workers (non‐UK nationals) are estimated to be working in the industry. |
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| Age: |
15% of the workforce is aged 25‐29 years. |
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| 20% is 35‐39 years. |
| 13% is 50‐54 years |
| Disability: |
7% of the workforce has some form of work limited disability. |
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[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008 and Annual Business Inquiry, 2007.]
Employment trends and future prospects
Employment within the food and drink sector as a whole is forecast to decline between 2007 and 2017. The fish processing industry has also suffered heavily from job losses in recent years. Between 2000 and 2007, the dairy industry experienced a 39% decline in employment levels. Job losses have been concentrated in England. Job losses occurred predominately in Yorkshire and Humberside.
Skill requirements and shortages
There is a demand for workers who: are motivated, are team players; have the right attitude; and have good communication skills. Other skills needed for managerial roles include people management, IT skills, sales strategy, financial management and human resources skills.
There is demand for some specialist roles in the fish industry, as employers find it increasingly difficult to recruit these workers. Demand is high for fish‐filleters, smokehouse operators, new product development roles, quality assurance roles, and engineers (the engineer’s role in this industry requires a broader base of engineering skills; mechanical, electrical, and some computing).
Occupational trends
Across the sector as a whole, recruitment issues are primarily in technical and skilled jobs, such as engineering, food scientists and technologists, quality assurance, bakers, millers, fish‐filleters and smokehouse operators.
New and emerging occupations include:
- Operational Level Jobs – Production control operations increasingly include machinery maintenance activities. Operation roles increasingly include quality monitoring and reporting tasks.
- First Line Management – Team leadership roles are now replacing supervisor roles within flat management structures.
- Environmental Control and Sustainability Roles – These roles are now being developed at junior/middle management level.
- Productivity and Improvements Roles – These are increasingly becoming important at junior/middle management levels.
- Corporate, Social Responsibility Roles – Senior management level roles are increasingly linked to environmental and sustainability agendas.
| Managers and Senior Officials |
10% |
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| Professionals |
2% |
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| Associate Professional and Technical |
13% |
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| Administrative and Secretarial |
17% |
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| Skilled Trades |
8% |
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| Personal Service |
0% |
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| Sales and Customer Service |
1% |
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| Process, Plant and Machine Operatives |
27% |
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| Elementary roles |
22% |
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[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008.]
National and regional data
East Midlands – The region accounts for 1% of all industry workplaces. The meat, other food, bakery, and fruit and vegetable processing industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
East of England – The region accounts for 2% of all industry employees and 6% of all industry workplaces. The meat, and fruit and vegetable processing industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
London – The region accounts for 2% of all industry employees and 4% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and other food industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
North East – The region accounts for 1% of all industry employees and 3% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
North West – The region accounts for 7% of all industry employees and 6% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
South East – The region accounts for 1% of all industry employees and 4% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and other food industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
South West – The region accounts for 7% of all industry employees and 11% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
West Midlands – The region accounts for 1% of all industry employees and 1% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
Yorkshire and the Humber – The region accounts for 28% of all industry employees and 18% of all industry workplaces. The bakery and meat industries dominate regional employment in the sector.
Scotland – Around 49,000 people are employed in the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Scotland across 1,500 workplaces. The bakery and drinks industries dominate Scottish employment in the sector. Approximately 8,000 people are employed in the fish industry. Within Aberdeenshire, the predominant workplaces are in the fish processing
[N.B. The following data are for the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector as a whole.]
Northern Ireland – More than 18,900 people are employed in the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Northern Ireland, accounting for 5% of the UK sector workforce. The meat industry dominates regional employment in the sector.
Wales – Around 23,700 people are employed in the food and drink manufacturing and processing sector in Wales across 600 workplaces. The meat and bakery industries dominate Welsh employment in the sector.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008 and Annual Business Inquiry, 2007.]
Salary levels
The mean gross pay in the UK fish industry is £372 per week, equivalent to £19,357 per year.
Gross mean pay in the fish processing industry is the lowest of all the Food and Drink Manufacturing industries. Across the various jobs within the fish processing industry mean pay ranges from £0,500 ‐ £42,000 per year for Manager and Senior roles, and £11,600 for Elementary roles.
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Improve AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
