Poultec launches apprentice academy series

The first in an ongoing series of monthly seminars for students of the Poultec poultry apprenticeship schemes has taken place in the east of England, with 12 taking part.

Following an initial pilot, Poultec hopes the “Eastern Region Poultry Apprenticeship Acadamy” will be replicated in other parts of the UK. It is designed to enhance the existing apprenticeships that Poultec runs in partnership with poultry companies.

The first session looked at management in the poultry house environment, specifically areas such as lighting, litter management and ventilation. The idea is to give apprentices access to a wide range of industry figures, such as nutritionists or vets, to see “how big the industry is,” according to Nathan Raines, Poultec associate director.

Take free e-courses at Farmers Academy

“This has been a really positive start for the programme, with a healthy number of keen young people attending this first session,” he said. “The main aim of this scheme is to encourage more young people into the poultry industry and to open their eyes to the huge career opportunities this industry can offer.

“There is currently a significant need with in the poultry sector to recruit and train the farm managers of the future and schemes like this apprenticeship academy will help to achieve this,” added Mr Raines.