Meet The Team
Seafood Cornwall Training is committed to providing everyone who learns with us with the highest standards of training.
All our trainers have plenty of experience in the areas they are teaching and have kept their expertise up to date. Whether that is because they have been in the fishing industry for many years as a Skipper, or are working regularly as a Paramedic or Firefighter, they will make sure your course is enjoyable, practical and gives you the confidence you need to progress your career as a fisherman.
Meet our team and read a bit more about their individual experience below.
Seafood Cornwall Training Team - Our Trainers

Kenny Downing
Kenny fished for 20 years after leaving school, 17 of those as Skipper. He is now working for P&O as chief officer/relief master on a 65m Irish research ship. When at home he is a volunteer crew member on the Penlee Lifeboat, where he is relief coxswain/emergency mechanic.
Kenny loves boats and the sea and is dedicated to marine safety and improving standards within the fishing industry. Kenny is approved by Seafish to deliver our Sea Survival, Health & Safety, Stability and Navigation & Watchkeeping courses.
Qualifications:
Master II/2 Standby, Survey, Research Unlimited
OOW II/1 Unlimited
Fishing Class 1
CEIH Professional Trainers Certificate
MCA and Seafish Approved Instructor

Mickey Ringwood
Mickey has 20 years’ fishing experience in various capacities including skipper and is at present Captain of a platform supply ship in the North Sea. When home from sea, Mickey is responsible for delivering our Navigation, Watchkeeping and Stability courses.
His enthusiasm and knowledge of his subjects is hard to beat.
Qualifications:
Master II/2 Standby Survey Research Unlimited
Fishing Class 1
CIEH Professional Trainers Certificate
MCA and Seafish Approved Instructor

Louis Mitchell
Louis has been a commercial fisherman for over 40 years working as skipper and owner of the Victoria Anne FH706 for the past 20. Louis now fishes from Newlyn in Cornwall. He previously fished from Cadgwith using pots, nets and occasionally handlines.
Louis also previously volunteered with the RNLI as Second Coxswain on the Lizard Lifeboat.
Louis was approved as an SCT Instructor in 2018 and now takes the majority of our Health & Safety, Safety Awareness and the AEC 1 courses.
Qualifications:
Engineer Fabrication Apprenticeship – City & Guilds I: Engineering Craft II: Fabrication & Thick Plate Craft III: Structural & Thick Plate
RNLI Machinery Training (engineer)
RYA/DOT Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore
RYA/DOT Yachtmaster Ocean
RYA/MCA Certificate of Competence Yachtmaster Offshore
BTEC Level 3 Award in Education and Training (March 2018)

Bob Grant
Bob has worked with SCT since 2018 to provide the STCW First Aid, STCW Personal Survival Techniques, AEC 1 and Navigation courses. Bob’s quiet and approachable manner is integral to his teaching method and his ability to engage with students is unrivalled.
As a mechanical engineer for over 30 years Bob owned and ran his own workshop working closely with colleges and training schools.
Bob has worked as a Yachtmaster Instructor and Chief Instructor for over 10 years and is now qualified as an Examiner. Over the years, Bob has volunteered for the St John’s Ambulance and is also a 999 responder and Emergency Transport Attendant (ETA).
Qualifications:
Royal Yachting Association (RYA) City and Guilds
Radar Instructor 7302 Certificate in Delivering Learning
Shore Based Instructor 7303 Education and Training
Diesel Engine Course Instructor 7304
Certificate to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector
Yacht Master Practical Instructor – Power and Sail
SRC Trainer/Assessor
Yacht Master Examiner – Power and Sail FAW Trainer/Assessor
First Aid Instructor AED Trainer/Assessor
Power Boat Advanced Instructor

Iain Hamilton
Iain provides our training for the Basic Firefighting Course. He has over 28 years experience in the Fire Service and is currently Crew Manager at Newquay Cornwall Airport. He is also a Director of his own Fire Safety training company, providing fire safety to all Industries.
Iain says, “It’s not just a job, I do it to save the lives of people that are at risk either on land or at sea. We provide people with the knowledge and understanding, to identify possible fire hazards and to prevent a dangerous situation developing in the first place. The practical element of the training installs confidence in people to extinguish a fire, using tactics and techniques in firefighting using fire extinguishers.”
Qualifications:
NVQ Level 3 in Learning and Development
Breathing Apparatus Instructor
Level 2 in Health and Safety (Trainer and Assessor)

Clive Palfrey
Clive was born in Looe and started fishing at an early age and worked his way up to Skipper and owning his own trawler.
Clive is experienced in trawling, pair trawling, scalloping, twin rigging and netting.
Clive is a volunteer RNLI coxswain with Looe lifeboat.
Clive was employed in 2018 as the SCT Safety Adviser and as part of his role he works with the SCT team to ensure that the sectors training needs are being met as well as an Instructor for Safety Awareness for Experience Fishermen and Health & Safety.

Nigel Row
After leaving the Royal Navy Nigel set up his own company A1 Health & Safety.
Nigel is an MCA approved Instructor who helps us with the Elementary First Aid and Personal Survival Techniques.

Andy Wheeler
Andy is a BSc (Hons) Fishery Science graduate and has 15 years fishing experience as well as 12 years fishing administration and management experience. Andy’s broad knowledge of the fishing industry gained through his studies, employment at the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation and as a commercial fisherman qualifies him well to deliver courses to both existing and new entrant fishermen.
In addition to being our lead trainer for our Health & Safety course, Andy is also approved to deliver STCW 95 Personal Survival Techniques Course. Andy holds a CIEH Professional Trainers Certificate as well as a Cert Ed/DTLLS (Certificate of Education/Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector).

Freddie Bates
Freddie started fishing with his Dad when he was 17 years old and took over the boat at 21 after getting his skipper’s certificate.
Freddie came to the UK from Ireland in 1992 as a mate on a beam trawler. Freddie started his own business as a net rigger in 1999 and continues to this day.
Freddie has worked for SCT for several years and is an integral part of our Introduction to Commercial Fishing course providing course in ropework and net rigging and repair.

Tim Andrews
Tim worked for 27 years at sea, for the past 9 years as Master on LPG tankers trading worldwide. He came ashore in 2004 and spent 5 years working as an Operations Manager/Dockmaster in the ports industry before joining the MCA as a marine surveyor in 2009. Tim retired from the MCA in 2023 having been Principal Surveyor at the Falmouth MO since 2017, inspecting all class of vessels including fishing vessels.
Tim was an MCA Examiner of Masters and Mates, including examining for Fishing Class 1 & 2.
Qualifications:
STCW II/2 Master Unlimited
RYA Day skipper
AET L3 in Education and Training
Seafood Cornwall Training - Admin Team

Clare Leverton
After 20 years in project management and project financing across Cornwall, Clare joined the Seafood Cornwall Training team in 2016.
Since her appointment as Manager in 2017 , Clare has taken on responsibility for the company’s response to the needs of the seafood sector for a broadening range of courses, new venues, exciting projects and new initiatives.

Helena Worthington
Helena started work for SCT in November 2016 and is now responsible for the book keeping and financial administration of the company.

Sanchia Jacobsen
Sanchia joined SCT in summer 2023 and has hit the ground running.
An experienced admin coordinator, Sanchia looks after all aspects of SCT’s training courses.