Entries open for the Zoetis – BPC 2017 Poultry Trainee Award

The award helps winners to further their careers through the choice of training activities in this country and abroad.

The last 2 winners both came into the industry seeking a career change. The 2015 winner Annabelle Heath trained as a jockey but decided on a more secure future with Cargill Meats in Herefordshire. She is using the £2000 to study for a 2-year HNC in poultry production through distance learning with Scotland’s Rural College.

Last year the winner was Sean Harrison who hasn’t looked back since moving from the hospitality sector to manage poultry for Faccenda Foods in Northamptonshire.

Entries close on 30 September and the chosen finalists meet the judging panel who decide on the winner. The panel comprises Zoetis’ poultry manager for the UK and Ireland, James Porritt; Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council; and Jake Davies, editor of Poultry World.

“Many youngsters, careers advisers and teachers are unaware of the career opportunities in today’s poultry industry,” said Mr Porritt, poultry manager of Zoetis in the UK and Ireland. “There are many excellent opportunities for ambitious entrants to progress into managerial roles within a few years in a dynamic industry expanding to meet the growing demand for poultry products.”

All finalists attend the prestigious BPC annual awards ceremony at the House of Commons on 5 December, when the winner is announced. As well as the Zoetis training grant, the winner receives a £500 cash prize from Poultry World and commemorative plaque, with all finalists invited to the award dinner in the evening.