UNITED KINGDOM PIG INDUSTRY NEWS PAGE
Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award 2009
February 2009
This year's chairman of judges for the Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award will be pig producer and industry training chief Richard Longthorp. Pfizer vet David Roberts will also be a judge, as will Gerry Brent, architect-in-chief of the pig industry's Certificates of Competence.
The prize list for this year's winner will be even longer than last year. It will include:
- £2,000 donated by Pfizer to the winner's employer, to be used to provide extra training for employees.
- £500 cash prize for the winner, donated by Pig World.
- Accommodation and a night out in London for the winner and his or her partner, provided by Pfizer.
- A year's associate membership of NPA, donated by NPA. (NPA's Zoe Davies will be urging the winner to become involved with Young NPA activities.)
- A year's membership of European Pig Producers, donated by Ian Campbell of the British branch of European Pig Producers.
The Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award is entering its third year as a national competition. Entry forms will be available here soon. There are absolutely no age restrictions to entry.
This year's entry form will include a set interview date. It will be a condition of entry that all entrants make themselves available for interview on the date given.
The Trainee of the Year Award ceremony will be in the House of Commons in late autumn.
Chairman of judges Richard Longthorp is an avid supporter of the Pfizer Trainee of the Year Award and hopes to see people enter from all parts of Britain.
But he claims to have his doubts about the title.
"I wish in my younger days at school I had put a bit more effort into my "training" - particularly English language, then perhaps I could come with a title that actually does the entrants full justice," he said today.
"The word trainee for most of us conjures up an image of a young/junior person learning the basics of a trade. Yet as far as the pig industry Trainee of the Year Award goes this image hopelessly understates the reality.
"Yes, they may be young. Yes, they may be learning the ropes But the people I have witnessed over the years are doing much, much more than that."
· They have a hunger for knowledge and a passion for improvement.
· They are learning to do what they do better.
· They are taking on new concepts and technology.
· They are actually setting an example and standard for others.
· They are people that you can entrust your business to. I have.
"So perhaps," says Richard, "what we really need is a competition to find a title that does full justice to these exceptional people and also does full justice to their employers. Let nobody be under any misapprehension as to the real meaning and prestige of Trainee of the Year Award."
Emmeline Randall, of Pfizer, and Digby Scott, of Pig World, today commended the many employers who encourage their staff to enter for the award.
"Our observation is that employers move heaven and earth to persuade their people to enter, and to facilitate them attending the interview session. The competitive spirit between employers is every bit as strong as it is between entrants!"
Prospective entrants: Do not be nervous about the interview. The judges are experienced. They are on your side. They want you to do well.
l NPA Trade Directory l Mechanical data l National Pig Association l Defra l BBC weather l
l Environment Agency l Food Standards Agency l Quality Meat Scotland l Scottish Executive l
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