The SQA has therefore formally accredited Aviagen Ltd as an Approved Centre, meaning that the company has the authority to award nationally recognised SVQ certificates to its staff on completion of training programmes.

Aviagen delivers training to employees using a mix of formal courses and on-the-job training by experienced Farm Managers and is currently exploring the possibility of on-line learning to complement these traditional methods.

Martyn Dickinson, Aviagen Operations Training Manager, said: “At Aviagen we are committed to training our workforce to make sure they are competent to do their job effectively to produce high quality eggs and chicks, as well as meeting our own high standards of animal welfare, biosecurity and health and safety.

Aviagen employees’ competence is formally evaluated by trained and qualified in-house assessors and this is then verified by the SQA to ensure consistent high standards are maintained. In order to achieve the qualifications, employees are required to have a mix of technical knowledge and understanding as well as practical hands-on skills.

“This provides our staff with an excellent opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge and gain a recognised qualification in Poultry Production which is a great starting point for a long term career in the industry. It also shows our customers that Aviagen is dedicated to adhering to the highest possible standards for staff competence.”