"I originally only planned on coming to Scotland for a few months to earn some money to start my own business in Poland, but that was 10 years ago…

I had some friends in Fraserburgh so naturally I headed to Aberdeenshire and applied for a job with International Fish Canners as I had a friend who worked there at the time. My application was successful and I was appointed as a General Operative.

My level of English was good which was noticed by a Production Manager, so I was deployed to work at the Retort Department and was responsible for the sterilization process. After about 10 months I was promoted to a Chargehand position which gave me a lot of knowledge about the production process, but also about planning and organising work for a big department. I held that position for a few years and when the opportunity arose, I successfully applied for a Shift Manager’s position.

I am responsible for planning day-to-day production, organising the workforce and all necessary ingredients/materials to produce high quality products. I must ensure that all departments (Retorts, Engineering, Hygiene etc.) are working together to maintain continuous production to meet targets and achieve the best possible yield and efficiency.

I like working with people, in a fast-paced environment. Whilst this is challenging, it gives me an opportunity to develop my skills and knowledge. I’ve managed to achieve a successful career and really enjoy what I do – so much so I am still here 10 years later."

"I first started with Thistle Seafoods as a receptionist, which turned out to be the perfect position in which to learn all about the company and the different departments and their roles. I developed an interest in engineering after processing invoices for all the different parts we use, so when a vacancy within the Engineering Stores department came up I applied. The company recognised that I am an extremely organised and capable individual and so I was initially given an engineering administrator position. This led to me being promoted to having overall responsibility for the day to day running of the Engineering Store. This involves maintaining stock levels, processing engineers’ requests and liaising with suppliers. It is an extremely important job as if there are not enough parts or not the correct items in stock it can impact production and cause downtime."

“I first started working for Thistle in 2007 as a General Operator in the factory and was promoted several times within the Production department. However, when the Technical Supervisor position became available, I wanted to try something different and applied. After proving myself in this role I was also promoted, and I am now a Factory Technical Manager.

I’m responsible for overseeing the Quality department and focusing on the food safety, legality and quality in the organisation on a daily basis. I enjoy getting to work closely with lots of other departments including the Technical, Production, Buying, Hygiene and Engineering departments.”

“After graduating with a science degree, I was looking for work when I spotted a vacancy for a Laboratory Manager at Thistle. I’d always wanted to work in lab so applied and was lucky enough to get the job, which included testing microbiology and allergen and species analysis.

A new challenge presented itself when a Technical Manager position became available and I moved to a technical role within the company. I am now involved in many areas and deal with both suppliers and customers. It is my job to ensure that the ingredients purchased are safe to use and of good quality to produce exceptional products for the retailer and their customers.

I liaise with the retailers to arrange site visits and create specifications. I also ensure the site maintains its BRC accreditation, and I prioritise food safety in the production areas as well as encouraging a positive food safety culture within the team.

The role is challenging but extremely rewarding and I am pleased to work for such a forward thinking and innovative company.”

“New products and development are critical to the future success of any business. My job as an NPD Technologist involves working alongside the development chef to turn the initial concept of a product into recipes that can be easily produced at factory level, without any loss of quality and at the best cost.

The role involves, but is not limited to, coordinating launches of new products and supporting factory trials, researching market trends and technology to develop new products, organising tasting sessions from across the market, modifying current recipes and processes, trialing new raw materials to ensure the best quality is sourced, and working with a range of departments such as Engineering and Production to develop solutions to production issues.

To do this job it is essential to be enthusiastic about food and to enjoy trying new things! The seafood industry has provided me with a great opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills, which has helped me to progress. I have previous experience working with food and have a degree in Dietetics which has given me knowledge in food science, biochemistry and nutrition. The seafood industry is fantastic as it can offer a diverse range of careers no matter where your interest lies.

I love being part of the team who work behind the scenes in food production, and it’s an even better feeling when you see your teams’ creation on the supermarket shelves!”