The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association is re-launching its industry training packages with new online courses after gaining City & Guilds accreditation.
The trade body has revamped and updated the course contents of its Foundation and Advanced Training programmes which have now been assessed and accredited by City & Guilds.
The programmes offer the only in-depth aquatics specific training designed by industry experts which retailers can use to demonstrate to local authority inspectors across the UK the required species appropriate staff training they need to get a pet shop licence.
“We’re pleased our courses are accredited by City & Guilds because we believe that makes them even more attractive to people within our industry to have on their CV,” said OATA’s Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.
“Having well-trained staff, knowledgeable about the particular species they sell, is a key element of pet shop licensing across the UK. Our training programmes have always been well-recognised by the UK aquatics industry and local authorities so we believe this is an excellent time to invest in staff development with these new and improved online accredited courses.”
The two training programmes – which offer both an introduction and more in-depth look at water quality, filtration, fish biology and fish health - will now be delivered online, making it easier for students to work their way through the courses at a time and on a device that suits them.
The industry-recognised courses continue to be home study, completed at the student’s pace, and are now able to be studied on a computer, tablet or mobile phone, making it much easier to fit in periods of study around work, travel and home life.
The Foundation Training Programme is ideal for new recruits who may not have a lot of knowledge about fishkeeping while the Advanced Training Programme takes a more detailed look at the four subject areas, so will be good for managers or those wanting to develop their knowledge and demonstrate professional development.
Find out more about the two training programmes at https://ornamentalfish.org/training/. OATA members get discounted course fees.
