A PIG industry professional was praised for her determination as she scooped an industry award.

BQP field person Helen Hooks, who helps run 30 pig units across eastern England, won the Pig Industry Professional Register (PIPR) award for 2011, and also scooped an outstanding achievement award from BQP.

AgriSkills Forum chairman Richard Longthorp said: “As a runner up Trainee of the Year on two previous occasions, Helen has remained undeterred. She has attained more qualifications, attained more PIPR points and has taken her career to the next level as a result. And none could be a more determined or infectiously enthusiastic ambassador for professionalism in our industry.”

Helen was in the top 10% of PIPR members, collecting a high number of points for all her training and development activities. She also completed the tie-break.

“I think anybody who is serious about working in the pig industry should be a member of PIPR because it recognises and rewards training and professional development and raises self esteem and confidence while encouraging progression within the industry,” she said.

Helen, who was encouraged to improve her training skills and qualifications by her first employer, Kevin Bowes, started her career at Didlington, near Watton.

“I look after about 30 finishing farms over East Anglia into the Midlands as far as Birmingham,” she said.

“I enjoy it what I’m doing and some of the units present me a challenge but I’m up for it. I won’t give up until I’m satisfied that we’ve done as much as we can.”

She rejoined Bowes as an assistant manager and then manager for about six years. She joined BQP in January this year.

She was given a glass plaque to mark her PIPR award.