Billingsgate is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market.
An average of 25,000 tonnes of fish and fish products are sold
through its merchants each year. Approximately 40% of that tonnage
comprises fish imported from abroad. The annual turnover of the
Market is estimated to be in the region of £200m
Billingsgate Market is served by almost every port in the
United Kingdom-from Aberdeen to Penzance. Most of the fish is
transported by road directly from the coast and arrives at the
market in the early hours of the morning. Imported frozen fish is
usually shipped in large refrigerated containers. Imported chilled
fish is often airfreighted-sometimes from countries thousands of
miles away-or arrives by sea via roll-on, roll off ferries.
The Market complex covers an area of 13 acres and is entirely
self-contained. The ground floor of the building comprises a large
trading hall with 98 stands and 30 shops, including two cafes; a
shellfish boiling room; a number of individual cold rooms; an 800
tonne freezer store (maintained at a temperature of -26°C), an ice
making plant and 14 lock-up shops used by processors, catering
suppliers and merchants dealing primarily in trade sundries,
non-perishables, poultry and potatoes. The first floor of the
building consists of offices for use by the Superintendent and his
staff. The London Fish Merchants' Association, the Trade Union, the
Fishmongers' Company's Inspectorate, the Sea Food School Training
Association and for individual traders.
The Market is policed by Market Constables appointed by the
Superintendent and supervised by an Inspector and a Market
Sergeant. These officers enjoy certain Road Traffic and other law
enforcement powers within the Market site and are responsible
directly to the Clerk and Superintendent
Day-to day cleaning and maintenance of the site and facilities
is carried out by a team of City of London staff under the
direction of the Market's Head of Maintenance.
Education
There are two training organisations based at Billingsgate
Market, The Greater London Seafish Training Association and
Billingsgate Seafood Training School.
Greater London Seafish Training Association
The Greater London Seafish Training Association is a Sea Fish
Industry Authority funded GTA for the fish industry within Greater
London which has two clear goals. Firstly to organise cost
effective training to raise quality and standards within fish
businesses and secondly to actively work towards the promotion of
fish and the fish industry. Training can also be made available to
members of the public who wish to learn more about the Fish
Industry The GTA works with other learning organisations and can
advise, source and provide training as diverse as Fish Recognition,
Knife Skills, Health and Safety, Hygiene, Business and Computer
skills. In fact any training required by the industry or by those
working within the industry.
Office 28,
Billingsgate Market,
Trafalgar Way,
London E14 5ST.
Tel: 020 7517 3545
Fax: 020 7517 3535
Visit
the website
Billingsgate Seafood Training School
Billingsgate Seafood Training School located at the Market and
can provide tailor made classroom-based courses and demonstrations
in fish recognition, knife skills, presentation, cooking and
nutrition. To book a course or to find out more about the School
contact:
Tel: 020 7517 3548/9
Fax: 020 7517 3544
Email or
visit the
website
Porters
All porters working in the Market are licensed by the City of
London and a register containing details of each porter and his
employment is kept by the Superintendent. Should any dispute arise
in negotiations or in relation to conditions of service, rates of
pay or operating practices, which cannot be settled between the
parties involved, the matter is brought to a Joint Labour Committee
composed of representatives of the porters' union and the employers
in equal numbers and chaired by the Superintendent, in the capacity
of neutral Chairman.
Billingsgate Market enjoys a good reputation in respect of
labour relations and most problems are settled without the need to
resort to a formal meeting. For practical reasons,Market porters
traditionally wore flat-topped leather hats but these days they are
only worn on 'special' occasions. The white sailcloth smocks have
been retained and apart from their practical usefulness these add
to the Market's colourful background.