Further success for top aquaculture apprentice

FOLLOWING on from her success in the recent Lantra awards, Hayley Eccles has just been awarded Best Modern Apprentice Aquaculture Student by the University of Highlands and Islands (UHI).

Hayley, who works as a freshwater technician on Scottish Sea Farms’ Couldoran site, was presented with her award at a ceremony at UHI on June 23, much to the delight of her tutor Murray Stark and her SSF site manager Niall McCallum.

Stark had nominated Hayley for her outstanding assessment material for her Level 3 and this was from a group of 50 students.

Hayley said: ‘I have really enjoyed the course and never really expected anything like this, especially after the other recent award.

‘It has been such a benefit to me just doing the course and I now feel totally justified choosing aquaculture as my career.

‘I spent many years working in the retail sector, which was not nearly so well rewarded or satisfying.’

Hayley was also chosen to be among a select group of 11 people who met HRH Prince Charles on his visit to Attadale Estate on June 24.

The Duke of Rothesay, as he is known in Scotland, was visiting the River Carron project, led by Bob Kindness, jointly funded by the University and Scottish Sea Farms among others. Hayley’s tutor Murray was also in the group.