CAFRE placement year opens poultry career path for agriculture student

Anna Short secured a scholarship through CAFRE’s Industry Support Programme in conjunction with Pilgrim’s Europe.

A paid placement year through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Industry Support Programme has helped a Greenmount Campus student gain hands-on experience across the poultry sector and clarify her future career ambitions.

Anna Short, a BSc (Hons) Sustainable Agriculture student at CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus, secured a scholarship placement with Pilgrim’s Europe, giving her the opportunity to complete a one-year paid placement with the agri-food company alongside a £2,500 cash payment to support second-year study costs.

Anna, who comes from a sheep farm between Moneymore and Cookstown, said her upbringing in agriculture, combined with involvement in Moneymore Young Farmers’ Club, inspired her to pursue a degree in the sector.

Gaining experience across the poultry industry

Through the Pilgrim’s Europe Agriculture Division, Anna has completed a rotational placement across several poultry teams, including hatcheries and broiler production, providing insight into multiple aspects of the industry.

She described the experience as “invaluable”, explaining that the programme’s structure helped her understand how different parts of the poultry sector operate together.

Her placement began at Donaghmore Hatchery, where she worked on incubation profiles across different chicken breeds, gained experience in chick dispatch and logistics, and managed small operational projects.

She later moved to Carn Hatchery, expanding her knowledge of breeder operations while supporting quality control and process management.

Taking on responsibility in a compliance role

Anna is now part of the Broiler Team at Nutt’s Corner, where she initially assisted in running a broiler farm for a full crop of birds. She is currently covering a Farm Compliance Manager role, a significant responsibility for a placement student.

In this role, she helps prepare farms for Red Tractor audits, ensures animal welfare standards are upheld, and manages compliance documentation, gaining first-hand experience of the regulatory and welfare standards that underpin poultry production.

Linking academic learning to real-world practice

Anna’s placement year with Pilgrim’s Europe has helped her gain industry insight, professional connections, and a newfound passion for poultry.

Anna said her studies at CAFRE provided a strong foundation for the placement.

“In second year, we completed a module on Sustainable Pig and Poultry Production, and it gave me a solid grounding before my placement. Subjects we covered in class such as ventilation, bedding, and temperature are now part of my daily work. Seeing the science behind broiler environments in action has greatly reinforced my understanding.”

She also admitted that her enthusiasm for poultry came as a surprise.

“I never thought I’d enjoy working in poultry so much, but it’s been great,” she says. “It’s definitely where I see myself after graduating.”

Professional development and career ambitions

Alongside technical experience, Pilgrim’s Europe places strong emphasis on personal and leadership development.

Anna regularly attends three-day development sessions with other placement and graduate students from across the UK and Ireland, focusing on communication, time management and understanding individual working styles.

“I’ve met people from every level of the business, including heads of UK agriculture teams,” she says.

“Those connections will make a real difference when I start applying for jobs.”

Looking ahead, Anna is clear about her ambitions.

“After I finish my degree, I’d love to come back to Pilgrim’s Europe, whether through their graduate programme or in a full-time role. I know it’s a fantastic place to start my career. I’m so glad I took this placement. The opportunities I’ve been given since last June have been incredible.”

Showcasing the value of a placement year

Anna’s experience highlights the benefits of a placement year for agriculture students, including applying academic learning in real-world settings, gaining exposure to different industry sectors, building confidence through responsibility, and achieving greater clarity on future career direction.

CAFRE is encouraging prospective students to explore these opportunities at its upcoming Agriculture Open Day at Greenmount Campus on Friday 13 March.

Those interested can find out more about industry partnerships, placement opportunities and hands-on learning by booking a place at www.cafre.ac.uk.