Dorset's largest fish merchants promotes Great Dorset Seafood Campaign

Customers of Samways Fish Merchants of Bridport will now be able to trace their seafood purchases back to where they originated, in a scheme to support Dorset Wildlife Trust's campaign for Great Dorset Seafood.

Every time a customer opens their delivery of fresh Dorset seafood from Samways, they'll find a label promoting the Great Dorset Seafood campaign. They'll be reminded of the campaign's aims, to encourage a return to a healthy and productive marine environment through sustainable, low impact fishing methods.

Samways have pledged to label all seafood supplied by fishers working a Dorset Port and approved by the campaign, demonstrating provenance and traceability to their customers.

Mark Machin, a trained chef from Samways sales and marketing team, said: “Samways supply hundreds of customers, ranging from village pubs serving Lyme Bay crab sandwiches to Michelin stared restaurants cooking hand dived scallops. 

The Great Dorset Seafood campaign fits in really well with Samways’ other work, contributing toward a sustainable fishery here in Dorset demonstrating some amazing produce on our doorstep from Lyme Bay”.

Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Great Dorset Seafood campaign, established in 2011, seeks to restore the health and productivity of our sea through choices, sourcing and information.

Peter Tinsley, Living Seas Manager at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “This partnership shows we are standing up for local inshore fishermen and for local marine wildlife by putting our seal of approval to seafood that is fresh and locally caught, using more selective capture methods. These fishing practices are sensitive to the environment and provide high quality seafood, so it’s good for you and it’s good for Dorset and its wildlife.”

This month also sees the annual revision of the Great Dorset Seafood Fish Guide and comprehensive online consumer and retailer guide on a variety of seafood species and fishing methods in Dorset.  Seafood that gets the green light includes mackerel and black seabream caught using rod and line; crabs and lobster caught using pots; diver-picked scallops; and herring and sole caught using static nets.

Further details on the Great Dorset Seafood campaign and Samways Fish Merchants can be found online at greatdorsetseafood.org.uk or Samwaysfish.com. 

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Dorset college boosts business leadership potential

Caroline Brewer, of Powerful Peformance,with Budmouth Interns

Budmouth College, in Weymouth, is creating The Leadership Academy to help local businesses ensure a thriving and successful future. 

A partnership between the college's groundbreaking Centre of Excellence and local leadership consultancy, Powerful Performance, The Leadership Academy allows firms to accelerate the progress of their talented people.

This initiative will also involve the students, with the aim of generating a two-way win-win exchange of ideas, skills and understanding.

Marcel Ciantar, Director of the Centre of Excellence at Budmouth, is very enthusiastic. “We are incredibly excited about this programme. It is the first of its kind in the area and will lead the way in both supporting local business to thrive by developing a strong leadership culture, whilst also preparing and developing our future entrepreneurs and business leaders. We have a wealth of talent in Dorset and it is time to really engage all of our strengths to really harness our potential.”

Local business leaders who recognise the critical importance of developing leadership talent in their organisations will be able to sponsor existing or aspiring managers to attend a series of short workshops being held each term on site at Budmouth’s Centre of Excellence. Each term will build on the previous one and each group will be made up of a mix of business representatives and A Level students to encourage a melting pot of experience and fresh thinking.

The ultimate aim is to support local businesses in developing and retaining their talented people and develop leaders who are better able to connect with their workforce, inspire commitment and create sustained high performance.

The first step in making this happen is to attend an introductory seminar for business leaders being held at Budmouth CEIL on Thursday 14th March, to find out more about this exciting local opportunity.

Contact Lynn Toman today on 01305 830505 to book your place or for further information.