Key speakers from two of the UK’s largest poultry businesses joined the latest Women in Poultry Production workshop this month, to share key insights and help to encourage new members.
The event, held at Avara’s headquarters, brought together women from across the industry to discuss career progression, workplace challenges and professional networking. With over 120 members and rapidly growing, Women in Poultry Production is open to all and serves as a vital platform for women to exchange experiences and gain insights into career development in the sector.
Among the key speakers were Sarah Dean, owner and Chair of Noble Foods, and Andy Dawkins, chief executive of Avara Foods. Both provided advice on overcoming challenges and seizing new opportunities.
Women in Poultry Production’s co-founder, Hannah Cargill, said: “We’re so pleased to offer our members opportunities like this. Not only did we gain advice and valuable ideas from Sarah and Andy, but our members put forward meaningful questions which encouraged a healthy debate. As our memberships continue to grow, we’re excited to do more of these unique discussions”.
A focal point of the discussion was imposter syndrome, a topic that resonated with many attendees. The speakers shared personal experiences and strategies for building confidence and self-belief. They also emphasised the importance of networking and effective communication, encouraging members to seek mentorship and cultivate meaningful industry relationships.
“These women are the future of British agriculture. We must listen to them and encourage them at every stage.” said Sarah Dean, owner and chair of Noble Foods.
“Being a supporter of Women in Poultry Production is important to me and to all of us at Noble Foods. We have a responsibility to invest our time, energy and funding into initiatives that foster talent, encourage networking and create more opportunities for women within this industry”.
Beyond personal career development, attendees explored new initiatives that companies can introduce to support women in poultry production.
Suggestions included mentorship programs, leadership development opportunities and fostering inclusive workplaces to ensure a thriving and diverse industry.
As a strong advocate for supporting women in poultry, Noble Foods remains committed to backing the group’s efforts. With membership continuing to rise, the Women in Poultry Production group is set to provide even greater value to its members.
Andy Dawkins, chief executive of Avara, added: “This group has the potential to make a real impact by openly discussing their experiences and sharing those learnings with industry leaders. It was an honour to join them and to see what a difference they are already making. I hope other businesses in our sector will lend their support to enable the group to flourish and grow”.
New members are welcome to join this growing community by registering their interest through the group’s Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn pages.