RichmondCC Partners with Huvepharma on Customized Training

April 28, 2022 - Richmond Community College has partnered with Huvepharma to provide customized training for their employees, including training in math, biology and chemistry.

Huvepharma is a fast-growing global pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing, manufacturing and marketing human health and animal health and nutrition products. The company has a 50-acre campus in Maxton that specializes in the production of poultry vaccines that prevents coccidiosis in chickens.

“Our site produces a live coccidiosis vaccine for broiler chickens that is strategic in controlling coccidiosis by stimulating protective immunity and can be used as a biologic control method in antiobiotic-free production systems.  Our team works in a very technical, aseptic process, and we pride ourselves in the quality of vaccine that we produce and that we have a direct impact on the poultry industry,” said David Phillips, production manager for the Maxton campus.

RichmondCC has secured funding through the N.C. Community College System to provide 31 employees with customized training specific to the poultry industry, as well as supervisory skills training.

RichmondCC biology instructor Natalie Thompson will be teaching the biology classes on site at the Maxton facility. Huvepharma employees who complete courses in math, biology or chemistry will receive college credits. Employees will also be trained in using Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel and Outlook.

“It has been greatly beneficial to partner with RichmondCC as the majority of our production team had little experience in biological vaccine production prior to working with Huvepharma. As a company we put a high value on continual training and development of our employees and RichmondCC is helping us give additional tools and training needed to our employees as we continue to bring innovative products to the poultry industry,” Phillips said.

The customized training project, which includes over 20 classes, has an estimated value of $42,264. It is a capital investment of $1,881,584 for Huevpharma.

“We value our partnership with innovative companies like Huevpharma and what they are doing for the poultry industry,” Dr. Dale McInnis, RichmondCC president, said. “It is our goal to connect them with funding and training opportunities that support their growth and investment in Scotland County.”

Through the customized training program, RichmondCC supported retention of 191 jobs and creation of 56 new jobs in 2020-2021.