THREE students from North Yorkshire have received scholarships to pursue careers in the poultry industry.

The British Poultry Council Scholarships are exclusive to Harper Adams University in Shropshire and are awarded on a competitive basis. They provide students with £3,500 per year for up to two academic years.

They also provide a guaranteed paid placement with a sponsoring company for the sandwich year that all Harper Adams students complete as part of their degree programmes.

Kate Chapman, 20, from Northallerton, is a second year BSc (Hons) nutrition and well-being student. She has been awarded a Faccenda Scholarship, and will complete her work placement within a technical/ operations role at the company which supplies fresh chicken products.

A former Teesside High and Bedale High School pupil, she said: “This is a great chance to gain valuable experience in a large company that supplies major retailers, helping me to further develop my knowledge of the food industry, which I can apply in my final year studies.”

Kate’s ambition is to have a successful career in the food industry and has already completed a ten-week summer placement at TRUEfoods Melmerby, near Ripon, as a technical assistant.

Away from academic life she plays netball for Harper Adams’ second team, enjoys horse riding, and is a member of Great Smeaton Young Farmers’ Club.

Jennifer Costello, 20, from Northallerton, is the Gressingham Duck Scholar.

A second year BSc (Hons) animal health and welfare student, she previously attended Teesside High School. She said the scholarship would give her knowledge of the entire process of specialty poultry production.

Tom Heseltine, 22, from Skipton, was selected as a Faccenda Scholar in 2012 and spent the 2012/13 academic year working within three different divisions of the company.