Highland aquaculture specialist Gael Force creates new senior posts in pursuit of ambitious five-year plan
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HIGHLAND aquaculture equipment, technology and service supply partner Gael Force Group has launched a recruitment drive following the creation of new senior engineering and support roles at the company.
The new positions represent a "significant investment", the firm says, and follow a similar drive in Canada earlier this month.
Jobs up for grabs include service and support manager, senior product engineer, senior project engineer and project manager.
They will be based at the firm's head office in Inverness.
In July, Gael Force launched a five-year strategy aimed at growing into a world class supplier . If delivered, it will lead to the doubling of sales and workforce.
Gael Force Group founder and managing director, Stewart Graham, said: “We remain motivated by the strong desire to partner with and support our customers in achieving high biological performance as profitably and sustainably as possible. As a trusted supply partner in the sector we see the senior roles we have created as being vital to that.
“By recruiting the right individuals who share the same ambition and customer focus as Gael Force, I’m highly confident that we will create an even stronger platform to deliver a level of product and service excellence that our customers will recognise as world class and value adding in supporting them to meet their aims.”
Earlier this month in Canada, Gael Force kicked off their recruitment drive by welcoming Mike Staite to their team, appointing him to the position of general manager of their operations on both the east and west coasts of the country.
Mr Staite joins Gael Force with over 20 years’ experience with a professional background and capability in engineering, project management and business development. He was previously the director of engineering at CPI Equipment Inc. where he was responsible for leading the engineering, product development, and technical sales for aquaculture products both in Canada and Internationally.
He will be responsible for project management, business development and technical sales support for the entire Gael Force aquaculture product line to British Columbia and Atlantic Canada salmon farmers.
His role will include management of the construction, commissioning, and installation of new Gael Force feed barges in Atlantic Canada and British Columbia, as well as the establishment of an office and service facility in BC. He will also lead the business development and establishment of a steel barge building production facility in Atlantic Canada.
Stewart Graham said: “Mike’s experience across engineering disciplines and project management will help us not only support our customers and existing projects but also to develop additional innovative key offerings into our range which will benefit all our customers, not just in Canada, but in Scotland and future export markets too. I am highly confident in Mike’s abilities and foresee him being a valuable addition to our team.”
Gael Force was founded by Mr Graham in 1983 in Stornoway. He started the business as a creel manufacturer, servicing the local fishing industry before relocating distribution to Inverness in 1990. The company still makes fishing creels in Stornoway.
The business employs around 250 in Scotland, England and Canada and is focused mainly on aquaculture equipment, technology and services.
Gael Force’s UK locations include head office and engineering facility in Inverness, a marine technology centre in Forres and boatbuilding operations in Fort William. It is involved in aquaculture pen manufacturing in Kishorn and Oban.
The range of current vacancies at Gael Force are being advertised at www.gaelforcegroup.com and on the company’s social media channels.
