Students, academics and the industry gather at Nor-Fishing

Thursday is Student Day at Nor-Fishing. For exhibitors, it is an important opportunity to meet the next generation of workers in the seafood industry – both to recruit new employees and to share experiences, build networks and gain new perspectives on the industry.

The seafood industry is growing and needs more people. The Vocational Training Office is among the players who are using the day to show students which companies and job opportunities exist in the seafood industry.

— It’s very important for us to be here because we recruit students for the blue industry. There have been lots of students who have stopped by who want to hear more about what it’s like to work in the industry, says Lindis Johansen from the Vocational Training Office in Sør-Fosen.

Important to motivate and inspire students

Other exhibitors also use the day actively to get to know the students. Instead of starting with a presentation of their own company, Jøran Burø from Danfos AS asks the students what they want to work on and tries to guide them as best he can. Interests range widely, from energy and fisheries to technology and design.

— It is very important that students come here to Nor-Fishing, because they are the future for both the industry and for us as a company. We need younger people who choose a career within the seafood industry, and it is important that we who have been in the industry for a long time help to motivate and inspire – regardless of whether what they want to work on is directly relevant to us or not, says Burø.

More than recruitment

For the fisheries industry, the Student Day is about more than recruitment. New employees can contribute to new technology, new working methods and other perspectives.

— If you are going to bring new technology into the company, the easiest way is to bring in new, young people who see things with new eyes. The combination of young and experienced is what builds a stronger team.

The Student Day thus gives both students and exhibitors something back: Students get to meet relevant companies and build networks, while companies get the opportunity to meet the expertise of the future.

And maybe some of today’s students will be standing on the other side of the stand the next time Nor-Fishing is held in 2028.