A CREWE student, who has worked for a national turkey farmer for a year, is set to go into the final year of her studies with the backing of an industry body.

Emma Buckley, 21, from Hough in Crewe, has formally received the final instalment of her university scholarship, sponsored by the British Poultry Council (BPC) and Bernard Matthews Foods.

Emma, 21, is in the final year of a BSc(Hons) agri-business course at Harper Adams University, Shropshire.

As a British Poultry Council scholar, Emma was one of a handful of students awarded £3,500 funding for each of the second and final years of her course, plus a work placement with a poultry company throughout her third year.

Emma, who previously attended Reaseheath College, Nantwich, spent most of 2013/13 working for Bernard Matthews, spending time in the hatchery, breeder/rearer, commercial and trials divisions of the company, to prepare her for a future career in the sector.

Emma said: “The scholarship helped me create the opportunity to expand my industry knowledge further and to work within a fast-moving and developing company. The money was also a great help towards tuition fees.

“My ambition is to be successful in the poultry industry or to develop my own business using the knowledge I have gained through placement year and my degree.”

In her spare time, Emma is involved in breeding and rearing cattle and chickens, netball, hockey and generally keeping fit.

She also holds the role of student warden within one of the Harper Adams student halls of residence, providing pastoral care to first years living on campus.