Daniel’s route into the poultry industry was not a conventional one. At 17, he was studying AS Level Mathematics, Economics and Accountancy, believing this was the path he wanted to follow. However, a few months into his courses, he realised that a fully desk-based career was not the right fit. With plenty of energy and a desire for more variety, he began looking for a different direction.
He secured a role as a Hatchery Operative at Aviagen Turkeys’ Grantham Hatchery, initially seeing it as a stopgap while he worked out what he wanted to do next. Before long, Daniel realised he had found an industry he genuinely enjoyed. He was drawn to the variety of hatchery work, the balance between technical and practical challenges and the fact that no two days were ever the same.
After four and a half years as a Hatchery Operative and Relief Team Leader, Daniel moved to Shropshire at the age of 22 to become Assistant Manager at PD Hook’s Affcot Hatchery. Just six months later, he took the opportunity to become Hatchery Manager. Over the following six years, he led major development projects, including the complete rebuild and later expansion of the hatchery. These were experiences he values greatly, both for the achievements delivered and the personal development they provided.
Following the Covid period, Daniel was keen to return home to Lincolnshire. Although he was sad to leave PD Hook, an opportunity soon arose with Moy Park, now Pilgrim’s Europe, as Hatchery Manager at Newark. He has now been based at Newark for five years and has since progressed into the role of GB Hatcheries Manager. In this role, he has overseen the reopening of the Ashbourne Hatchery while continuing to maintain strong and consistent performance at Newark.
Daniel has now spent 15 years working in hatcheries and remains motivated by the variety, pace and challenge of the industry. Conscious that he entered the sector through luck and circumstance, he is passionate about promoting the poultry industry as an exciting and rewarding career path. It is an industry he believes deserves to attract the brightest and best talent coming through education today.