High fryers: Plymouth's Harbourside Fish & Chips shortlisted for staff training and development award

Plymouth’s quality fish and chip business Harbourside Fish & Chips has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Staff Training and Development Award category of The National Fish & Chip Awards 2014, organised by Seafish.

Sponsored by James T Blakeman and Co Ltd, the Staff Training and Development Award is a celebration of educational excellence in the industry and rewards businesses that are committed to developing their staff to the highest level. Those making the shortlist are judged on a wide range of criteria including staff interview processes, business training policy and staff appraisal procedures.

Harbourside will now fry off against Mr C’s in Selby, North Yorkshire and Petrou Brothers in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire in one final round of judging before the winner is revealed at the prestigious awards ceremony, hosted by Michelin starred television chef Jean Christophe Novelli, held in London on 22 January 2014, where the overall winner will be crowned.

Sarah Lock, of Habourside Fish & Chips commented: "Harbourside are really proud to be shortlisted for the Staff Training and Development Award this year. We have worked really hard with local training providers and Seafish to get our staff the best training possible and to help improve our service to customers.

“We also achieved our Investors in People this year which has helped us to develop further highlighting key areas for improvement. We believe that Staff Training and Development is key to a successful business and we are always looking at ways we can help our employees to build on their knowledge and develop their skills further.”

Philip Blakeman, Managing Director of James T Blakeman & Co Ltd commented: “We’re proud to be sponsoring this fantastic award category again in 2014 and as always the shortlisted businesses are a credit to the industry they represent.

“In the fish frying industry, it’s as much about the people as the product, so you simply have to pay attention to the way you train your staff. A skilled, savvy, well organised team can make all the difference to a business and it’s all down to the teaching and support they receive on the job.”

Dr Paul Williams, Seafish Chief Executive, said: “Staff training and development is an integral part of running a successful fish and chips business; these three finalists have shown themselves to be real forward thinkers in that respect.

“Having effective training procedures in place not only helps to sustain individual businesses, it is also vital to the survival of the sector in general, ensuring that the industry constantly has a pool of knowledgeable and skilled staff operating within it.

“There are a great many companies, including those operating outside of the fish frying sector that could learn a thing or two by following these finalists’ example. We wish them all the best of luck in the final.”

For more information visit: www.fishandchipawards.com or follow @FishnChipAwards on Twitter.