The Dee District Salmon Fishery Board (Dee DSFB) has launched a bursary to encourage people to undertake a career on the River Dee. The bursary will give them a helping hand to get both vocational qualifications and access to some of the best fishing beats for work experience.

The Dee DSFB bursary will contribute towards living and education costs for a period of one year to a maximum of £5,000. It is up to the applicant to decide what types of training they require and this will be supported by relevant work experience. Applicants may decide that they need to acquire varied skills necessary for a career on the river, for example through training on how to look after customers, working with people of all ages and abilities or how to get the best out of new media. The applicant should feel free to tailor their training needs to the skills they already have and wish to build on.

Links to Recognised Training Providers are provided below: This list is not exhaustive but provides a guide to the types of training courses available in the United Kingdom.

College courses:

http://www.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk/content/education-and-training

http://www.barony.ac.uk/aquaculture/

http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/5564

http://www.northhighland.uhi.ac.uk/courses/nc-gamekeeping#tab3

Casting Qualifications:

 Scottish Game Angling Instruction Certification level 2 coaching http://www.sgaic.co.uk/SGAIC_become_an_instructor_FAQs.html

 AAPGAI-Opportunity to obtain advanced coaching certification http://www.aapgai.co.uk/

First Aid Course:

 http://www.redcrossfirstaidtraining.co.uk/Courses/First-aid-at-work-courses-uk-mainland.aspx

Requirements: Any person will be considered for the bursary. Attendance on training courses (if required) will need to be undertaken by Aug 2014 therefore candidates are responsible for applying in sufficient time.

The Dee DSFB will be open to applications from April 1st 2013 and will close May 10th 2013. Applicants should specify their motivation for wanting to work on the river, what training courses they have applied to undertake and why they should benefit from the bursary. The successful candidate will need to undergo Disclosure Scotland certification to ensure that they are suitable for working with vulnerable adults and children. The successful applicant will be informed by May 20th 2013.

Applications should either be sent to River Dee Bursary, River Office, Mill of Dinnet, Aboyne, AB34 5LA or emailed to info@riverdee.org

For further information either call the River Office on 013398 80411 or email info@riverdee.org