£2,000 poultry training grant up for grabs

Now is the time to prepare your entry to become 2011 Pfizer Trainee of the Year – an award, organized in association with Poultry World, that is helping past winners to progress their careers.

Last year’s winner, Ben Pollard, is using the £2000 training grant to pursue an HNC in poultry production at the Scottish Agricultural College in Ayr.

“Ben was thrilled to win the Pfizer award,” said Jan Morris, human resources director of Aviagen. “He believes this qualification will provide him with the opportunity to link his extensive practical experience of poultry in Scotland and India with a deeper understanding of production techniques and technologies, as well as the underlying scientific principles.”

Ben, who is 27, is working on a project to review chicken physiology with colleagues across the farming base and the in-house veterinary team, conducting post-mortem evaluations and gathering data at various stages of bird development.

James Porritt, Pfizer poultry manager, said this is just the kind of training they are keen to encourage. “Managing a poultry farm is no longer a simple job, with constantly rising health and welfare standards as well as the need to achieve strict performance and financial targets.

“But it is a career with excellent opportunities to advance for those with the talent and ambition.”

HOW TO ENTER

Entry forms can be downloaded at www.fwi.co.uk/poultrytraining, or obtained by emailing poultryworld@rbi.co.uk or telephoning 020 8652 4921.

Entries must be submitted by 29 July.

The three finalists will be interviewed on 14 September and then attend the prestigious presentation at the House of Commons later in the autumn when the winner will be announced.