Pilgrim’s UK’s agriculture director, Howard Revell was presented with an NPA Lifetime Fellowship during a busy British Pig & Poultry Fair for the NPA
The industry veteran, who is retiring from his role of at the end of May, stood down from the NPA’s Pig Industry Group in February, having sat on PIG and its predecessor, the Producer Group (PG), for 15 out the past 18 years, chairing PG for some of that time.
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson said: “This is recognition for his years and years of service at NPA. From a personal perspective, he was one of my very first bosses in the pig sector. He has been a constant mentor and huge support and champion throughout my career.
“He has constantly and diligently worked behind the scenes for NPA throughout the sector, fighting for the good of the farmers. He has made a huge contribution to the pig sector.
“Many of you will have no idea just how much effort he has put in and how much value he has added to the pig sector over the years.”
Pig Industry Scholarship celebration
The well-attended NPA reception at the end of the first day at BPPF also saw the launch of John Mackinnon’s report into adaptive farrowing systems in commercial settings and a celebration of 10 years of the Pig Industry Scholarship Programme.
The partnership has for a decade brought together Harper Adams University, AHDB and the NPA to secure pig industry placements for students seeking careers in the pig sector. During that time, 50 student placements have been offered to a variety of companies within the pig sector, many of which remain in the industry today.
Former NPA vice-chair Hugh Crabtree, who has been a driving force of the scheme for many years, was joined by current and former Harper students who have benefited from the scheme over the years.
Before cutting the celebratory cake with AHDB’s head of engagement for pork, Charlotte Evans, and Caroline Mason, development trust officer at Harper Adams, and setting off a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, Hugh described the scheme as a ‘triumph’.
“Quite a lot of money has flowed into the development trust at Harper Adams, who have been spectacularly professional in matching young talents with people are interested in getting involved in graduate recruitment under the administration of AHDB and I chair the steering group, which remains a successful tripartite collaboration.
“In my view it’s been a real triumph and more and more companies are recognising that there’s a lot of exciting young talent coming through Harper looking for opportunities – and, my, have we got opportunities in this wonderful industry!”
The current and former students present included Josie Hatch, who was among the first ever cohort of placements in 2014, and remains at that company, Cargill, today as its marketing communications specialist UK and Ireland.
She said: “Before the scholarship I had no previous pig industry experience, so this was my route into the pig industry where I remain today!”
Forums
It was a busy couple of days for the NPA team, as Lizzie and NPA senior policy adviser Katie Jarvis took part in a sobering, but informative forum session on African swine fever (NPA reception 24 2ASF) preparedness, while Lizzie chaired a session on farm assurance.
NPA chairman Rob Mutimer took part in the popular Pig Outlook session, highlighting the tentative signs of industry recovery, which were very evident at the event, and his confidence that Government regulation on pig contracts will help deliver a fairer supply chain.
But he also highlighted various issues of concern, including the ASF threat and funding cuts at Dover for checks on illegal meat imports, uncertainty over future farrowing legislation, the current labelling consultation, which he described as one of the worst he’s ever seen, difficulties in securing labour on farms and issues around planning permission.