From the sound of instruments, to the rippling waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Former music tutor David Boyter was keen for a career change and decided to swap his mornings of tuning guitars and coaxing nervous beginners through their first chords, for working on the water in one of the world’s most beautiful locations.
It might seem an unlikely transition – from teaching scales and song structure to working shifts on a salmon farm – but for David, the change was less about leaving music behind and more about finding a new rhythm altogether.
As he closes in on completing his first year as a Site Assistant on a Shetland West mainland site, David reveals why and how he came to working with Cooke Scotland following 20 years of teaching music.
How did you get here – what was your route into aquaculture and this job?
I had been considering a mid-career complete change of direction out of education class-based work and into a more physically active and outdoors based role. I came straight from 20 years of music tuition in many different roles within education settings. Prior to starting at Cooke I was working for Shetland Arts teaching the music courses to students of the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Why did you decide to change career?
I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors recreationally but have found after five years in Shetland that you often don’t get to grab the opportunities to be outside when the weather smiles and you find you are yet again stuck working indoors. After I heard locally that there was somebody retiring from a site assistant role I sent a CV to the Shetland Regional Manager.
I knew that I didn’t have the working background that the company would normally be looking to see by an applicant in their 40s so I mentioned my upbringing, coming from a fishing family in the East Neuk of Fife and my familiarity with small boats and knowing a bit of knot work, and that I was also really keen! I hoped that might be enough to reach an interview and so I was delighted to be invited in for one, and then subsequently a Site Assistant role.
What has surprised you about working in aquaculture?
It’s been great learning the many aspects of the role and it is a lot more varied than I first anticipated. That has been a positive realisation, meaning the job isn’t purely repetitive. There are of course some day-to-day aspects which can be the same, but there are a myriad of other tasks and activities we undertake and adapt our working day around to fit the needs of the fish.
What do you like about the job you are doing now?
I enjoy working with the small team here, and the company has been great putting me through a variety of training. It’s also a real bonus for me to find a good job close to home, and to work in the local community feels special after the many years of commuting longer distances when I lived on the mainland of Scotland.
What would your advice be for someone looking to follow a similar career route?
My advice to anyone looking to follow a route into aquaculture would be, that if you enjoy practical work and being outside, just to go for it. Cooke are a great company to work for and I really appreciate them taking a chance on a music teacher!
If you are interested in a career with Cooke, visit our Careers Page for more information and details on how to get in touch.
Lead photograph: David Boyter, Seawater Site Assistant at Cooke Scotland