Thomas Harrison

In this role I was responsible for the smooth running of the team in the despatch department at c&k Meats.

My main tasks included the loading of lorries and ensuring the y were despatched on time with the correct documents and also ensuring that the trailer were despatched within the legal weight limit. Making sure meat products were stored at the right temperature and the stock was rotated so we could minimise the waste and ensure high levels of food hygiene.

In this role I was also taught how to safely use the Shunter and Forklift trucks as well as completing my level 2 food safety certificate, mental health first aider course and starting my level 3 food safety course.

Whilst working in this role I have recently been nominated for the success awards for my ability to lead by example.

I joined Rattlerow as a pig stockman in February 2023 where I was responsible for looking after 600 sows in a breeding herd.

I was very involved in the farrowing where I would look after the sows and piglets right up until weaning and I would then also be involved in the service area where I achieved very high results. I was also asked on a regular basis to use the JCB Loader to complete a variety of tasks because of my proficiency on that machine.

As a result of my success on this unit after 4 I was then asked to become the assistant manager on a newly established unit. Again I worked alongside on the farrowing and dry sows but in this role I was also asked to assist with the training of new and less experienced members of the team.

Whilst with Rattlerow I completed my VetMed course which allowed me to administer medication to animals and also humanely euthanise animals that were suffering.

At Dingley Dell Pork I worked primarily on the finisher unit making sure that the fattening pigs were kept healthy. This would include checking them on a daily basis medicating sick or lame animals, making sure they always had access to food and water and ensuring they had warm and dry bedding.

I was also involved in selecting which pigs would be sent to market and then transporting them from the tent to the lairage in a tractor and trailer.

My other main responsibility was to drive the farms JCB Loader. This meant I became a very skilled operator of this tractor.

Greenknight Ltd was my first job in pig farming and it is very much the place where I learnt the very basic but important aspects of caring for pigs. My duties included mucking out and washing down pig sheds. Feeding and checking water drinkers, Identifying sick and lame animals and helping move animals around the farm and on to lorries using livestock boards.

I was also often asked to help with basic maintenance of the farms buildings and also assisting with the harvest when it was REQUIRED.

I started working at C&K Meats as a despatch operative in 2017 where I was required to load pig, lamb and beef carcasses on to the butchery round lorries in the early mornings. This job would also involve picking and packing different cuts of meat that would then go on to the lorry as well. I would also often be asked to go out with new drivers to help them carry the different side of Pork and beef into the butchers shops.

I would then assist with the sow loading once the butchery orders had been fulfilled.

After the company was taken over by CPC group I was then made the supervisor of the afternoon shift where I learnt how to use the new computer systems that CPC introduced to the factory.

I worked for Rowan Stoneworks as a labourer. I learnt how to cut stones for buildings the basic of laying stones in walls, how to repoint a stone wall and also how to mix the correct types of lime motar to help build or to point walls.

In Italy I played for several clubs where I was payed to play but also to coach youth sections at my clubs.

In my 1st season I was the top try scorer for my team and I helped them to one of the highest spots in the league.

I was also invited to play for the Italian national rugby league team against Spain but unfortunately due to injury I couldn't play.

I was selected to tour Europe representing an invitational beach rugby team which I had the privilege to captain in the Marseille leg of the tour. During that tournament I was the top scorer for my team.

I became very confident in speaking conversational Italian from this experience.