Poultry World readers are being asked to vote for the
winner of the Pfizer Trainee of the Year 2007 Award.
Over the last three months, Poultry World has profiled
the three finalists of the Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award 2007.
But now it's up to you to decide the winner.
Here is a quick summary of the three finalists from the last
three issues of Poultry World.
Finalist 1: Harry Perdikou
A couple of holidays on a poultry unit in Somerset gave Harry
Perdikou the taste for life on a farm. So when he left school in
Edinburgh at the age of 18, he opted for a career in poultry.
He went back to work on the unit for Steart Farms, near
Bridgwater, in September 2006. "He joined us a city boy with no
experience, but plenty of enthusiasm," reports his employer, Simon
Darch. He had to learn everything from scratch and has taken to the
job, says Simon.
Steart Farms has two units growing broilers for Lloyd Maunder.
Ferricies Farm, where Harry works, produces flocks of 50,000 grown
on a Freedom Foods regime to 51 days on a maize diet.
When asked how he has benefited from his training, he said:
"With the knowledge and practical skills I have gained, I've become
more self-confident in what I am doing. This has given my employer
more confidence in my ability to achieve the tasks on the farm to
the high standard required by him and the company we supply."
Read the full
profile of Harry
Finalist 2: Christopher Rees
Working on a poultry farm might have seemed a natural choice for
Christopher Rees. He was brought up on a broiler breeder unit in
Leicestershire, but it was not until he was 24 that he saw this as
the career for him.
He sought to broaden his poultry experience and moved to the
commercial layer sector, managing a 55,000-bird free-range and
barn-egg unit for Bridge House Farm at Long Buckby in
Northamptonshire. In 2004 he went back to the Illston-on-the-hill
farm, became assistant manager for Moy Park's 37,000-bird broiler
breeder unit at Scothern, Lincoln, and last September was appointed
manager of a 23,500-bird breeder farm at Landbeach,
Cambridgeshire.
When asked how he has benefited from his training, he said: "As
a result of my training, I'm more aware of the importance of high
standards of biosecurity on my farm. I am also more vigilant when
it comes to health and safety, and the protection of my livestock,
staff, the environment and the business generally."
Read the
full profile of Christopher
Finalist 3: Adrian Abnett
Enthusiasm to learn is a big asset to anyone starting a career,
which is a quality which our third finalist, Adrian Abnett, has in
abundance.
He joined Grampian Country Chickens in their rearing division in
Kent just over two years ago at 17 years of age, after initially
working for a vaccinating and catching team. He had gained a string
of GCSEs and was not then considering a poultry career, but after
beginning sixth form studies he changed his mind.
He began an NVQ apprenticeship and was soon moved on to a
rearing farm as a stockman. It proved to be an excellent place for
hands-on experience, with Grange Farm at Kenardington, near
Ashford, gaining the Aviagen award for the best performing rearing
flock for 2005.
He was recently promoted to assistant manager over 60,000
broiler breeders on the Grange, Horsemarsh and Balcony sites in the
Lydd area.
When asked how he has benefited from his training, he said: "I
tend to be more methodical in my actions, taking into account the
whole picture. Rather than concentrating on a single issue, I have
become more confident in my own ability and as a result more
efficient. This has not only developed my own personality, but has
also improved the manner in which I deal with my livestock."
Read the
full profile of Adrian
Voting opens on October 5 and you can vote either by phone (0845
4026 527), fax (0845 4026 528) or email
(roger@bhrcommunications.co.uk) simply stating your choice follows
by your name and company. Deadline for voting is 22 October.
The winner will receive £2000 worth of training of their choice
and the award is to be given by junior DEFRA minister, Lord Rooker,
at the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference on 5 November.