Shetland Seafood Auctions

Winner & Overall Winner: Under 10 Employees category

• AppSwing Limited - Highly Commended
• Blue Rocket
• DerbyCityCredit Union
• Shetland Seafood Auctions Ltd

 “The placement has given the student a better understanding of small to medium enterprises so they can now have the confidence to take a position of responsibility in such a company.”Martin Leyland, Auction Manager, Shetland Seafood Auctions Ltd

Shetland Seafood Auctions offer the sale of fresh fish via an online auction and employ a placement student for a 10 week summer project.

This year’s student was given the task of reviewing the companies’ strategy of marketing their farmed seafood. They were encouraged to work independently and were given a great deal of autonomy in how they went about their project enabling the student to learn how to set targets and perform task management.

The placement student produced a new brochure, advert and a promotional DVD in order to promote the product to potential buyers and sellers of farmed seafood. As a result sales went from zero to £120,000 within the 10 weeks. The success of the work the placement student has carried out has subsequently led to further employment opportunities being created within the organisation.

The organisation was awarded the Overall Winner for 2007-08 because of its unique combination of one-to-one mentoring, the varied and impressive skill-set developed by the student and the massive financial benefits to the company. All of this was achieved in a comparatively remote geographical location where recruitment and retention of talent is often an extra challenge for the employer.

• The placement student took a product from zero to £120,000 of sales in under three months
• The student employed cutting-edge sales techniques within an industry.
• Students are encouraged to work independently but can receive support at any time.

Photography by Jacopo Pandolfi/JP Images