Are you a hard-working young UK poultry professional with a desire to develop your career? The Aviagen Next-Gen Scholarship may be just what you are looking for!
“We are passionate about encouraging our next generation of poultry people. They are our future, and we want them to have this opportunity to start an exciting learning journey with their industry colleagues and tutors,” says Stuart Thomson, Aviagen UK Head of Sales and Technical.
See also: Find out more and apply on Aviagen’s website
Introduced in 2022, fully paid Aviagen® UK Next-Gen Scholarships are awarded to young industry talent, enabling them to attend various modules of the Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA) Production Management School.
Balancing theory with practical sessions, the School gives students a chance to pick up new skills while making valuable connections with poultry specialists and fellow students.
Learning and sharing at the Broiler and Breeder Schools
The Scholarships saw a successful first year, with two inaugural winners beginning a week learning journey at the 2022 Breeder and Broiler Modules. Health and nutrition, ventilation, biosecurity and management were just a few of the wide-ranging topics they explored.
Rob Evans, Avara Foods Farm Manager from Carmarthenshire in Wales, was a scholarship recipient for the Breeder School last summer.
While Rob currently runs a farm for Avara Foods, he tells us the focus on data opened a new world for him. “You can use data collected on the farm to improve sustainability, welfare and performance, and that was an important takeaway for me.” He said that meeting new friends, who share his passion for poultry farming and navigating with them the comprehensive learning added up to an invaluable experience for him.
Sean Harrison of H Timmis Farms was the second 2022 scholarship winner, who had a place at the Broiler School in November.
Sean also considers networking with like-minded poultry people to be a highlight of the course. “I was happy with the range of broiler management aspects we were able to experience. Taking those concepts presented and applying them in real-world scenarios helped reinforce the learnings for me.”
Coming soon … Hatchery School scholarship
Due to the success of the programme, the UK team has now added a scholarship to the Hatchery and Incubation Management Module, which will take place in April in Budapest, Hungary.
At the Hatchery Module, students look at the needs of a developing embryo during incubation and the tools and knowledge that lead to optimum hatchery performance and a good start to life for the flocks.
Equally as important, they share these experiences with fellow students from around the world, as well as leading specialists in incubation, hatcheries and other aspects of hatchery management.
For Aviagen, paving the way for future generations is another aim of the School. “We want to encourage and inspire them, introducing them to the breadth of career opportunities awaiting them in the world of poultry,” concludes Stuart.
Calling our Next-Gen
Aviagen encourages you to apply for a Next-Gen scholarship to the Hatchery Module if you:
• Are 35 years or younger
• Have a passion for poultry
• Currently work in the UK industry and are based in the UK
• Have a quest for knowledge and aspire to enhance your hatchery knowledge
• Want to make lifetime connections with the UK team and poultry industry colleagues
Along with a scholarship to the Hatchery module, winners have the opportunity to keep in touch with the Aviagen UK Team and to attend UK industry events. And, they may extend the learning journey that began at the EMEAA School by becoming part of the EMEAA Alumni.
To learn more or apply for the Hatchery Module, please visit https://eu.aviagen.com/eu/next-gen-scholarship.
Stay tuned as the Breeder and Broiler Module Next-Gen scholarship deadlines will be announced.
