Are you interested in working in a diverse industry where you could be involved in the production of high quality poultry and poultry products? Choosing a career in agriculture could give you the opportunity to work in the poultry industry.

Many potential entrants into the UK poultry industry will be unaware of the huge opportunities that exist for graduates and non-graduates alike. This is a vibrant dynamic industry full of highly committed, talented and ambitious people. Career paths are in place in almost every aspect of the business - the good news is there is a distinct shortage of good, capable people entering the industry.

The industry is a multi-billion pound operation, employing over a hundred thousand people throughout the country. There are good opportunities within every sector, e.g.:

• Management/Production
• Sales and Marketing
• Research and Development
• Breeding & Genetics
• Finance
• Planning
• Technical Advice
• Product Development
• Food Science
• Food Safety
• Human Resources
• Operations Management

Many graduates entering the industry, given hard work and dedication, end up on the board of directors of many of our leading companies. In the modern 'global' business world, our British poultry breeders are operating at the leading edge of the world's expanding markets.

The state of the art technology employed by the leading breeding companies owes much to the dedication of the highly trained and qualified personnel working within the industry. Today scientists working in the poultry-breeding sector are continually striving to improve the birds potential to resist disease and build a good skeletal structure. They are also aiming to meet the demands of consumers for safe, healthy, nutritious and innovative food products through the professional application of science.

Many opportunities exist for enthusiastic people to establish careers in the field of Research and Development relating to poultry. The poultry industry enjoys the support of research and development programmes carried out at both independent research centres and the 'in house' research facilities of many commercial operations. Many large companies conduct in-house development work, which is usually carried out in conjunction with the relevant commercial sector e.g. nutrition and pharmaceutical companies, equipment manufacturers etc.

The poultry industry is the most highly specialised and sophisticated sector of British agriculture. The skills and experience required to keep the national poultry flock healthy and productive do not come easily. Veterinary surgeons operating in the poultry industry are some of the best practitioners in any sector of agriculture.

There are many ways to enter a career in the poultry industry. If you have no formal qualifications but can demonstrate your enthusiasm for working with poultry, there are opportunities for you.

The following websites have more information on the poultry industry:

World Poultry Science Association (WPSA) - www.wpsa-uk.com

Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) - www.face-online.org.uk

British Poultry Council - www.poultry.uk.com