A Cooke Scotland employee swapped Cumbria for Canada after his talent and potential showed colleagues that he was ready for a step up into a new role as Team Lead at the New Brunswick Hatchery in Canada.
Callum Duggan, 28, worked for Cooke Scotland for seven years, and accepted the offer to join Cooke subsidiary Kelly Cove Salmon’s Johnston Lake Hatchery in Pennfield, New Brunswick, as Lead Hand from January 2024.
Callum was working as a Freshwater Operative at Cooke Scotland’s Holmwrangle Hatchery in Cumbria, England.
In addition to a BSc (Hons) in Marine Biology, Callum holds a Level 3 Modern Apprenticeship in Aquaculture and a Level 4 Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management. He also completed further qualifications with Cooke including an ILM Level 3 and ILM Level 5, both in leadership and management.
Named Aquaculture Learner of the Year by rural skills organisation Lantra Scotland in 2021, Callum was also joint winner of the CARAS (Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies) for dedication to learning.
In early 2023, Cooke Canada reviewed its long-term plan for freshwater operations and Callum was identified as having the potential to progress in a freshwater leadership role within Cooke’s global operations.
Callum, who will lead a team of between five and seven personnel, said:
“Cooke has equipped me with the skills and knowledge to put into practice in the work environment, and I’m looking forward to using what I have learned in my new role.
“Cooke gave me the chance to complete a Modern Apprenticeship and a Technical Apprenticeship in Aquaculture Management. I believe courses like this are a fantastic opportunity to develop and motivate staff, to show employees Cooke is willing to invest in them and nurture their passion and enthusiasm. These courses have been instrumental in preparing me for the role. I’ve always embraced the opportunity to learn and develop, and I have enjoyed every step.
“I have had the opportunity to lead teams throughout my time with Cooke however, this will be my first leadership position with the company. I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities it will bring, both personally and professionally.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity, and I hope to stay in Canada for the foreseeable.”
Colin Blair, Managing Director at Cooke Scotland, said: “At Cooke our success is driven by our dedicated employees. We acknowledge this dedication by continually investing in our people through continuous training and development, either via in-house on-the-job training, apprenticeships, external training opportunities or allowing time to complete professional qualifications.
“We promote the development of all of our employees and we wish Callum all the very best in his new role in Canada.”