Butcher apprenticeship

Produce the most cuts to make every carcass profitable

A successful butcher must demonstrate dexterous knife skills, together with craft, to be able to produce the most cuts to make every carcass profitable. Whether you’re working for a processing business, or for one of their customers, such as a supermarket, you’ll come to find that butchery is a highly skilled profession steeped in tradition. During the butcher apprenticeship you’ll learn about a range of meat species and the various techniques needed to process produce. You’ll learn to cut, prepare, package and present meat products to the standards required of the business and specialist needs of commercial enterprises and consumers. You’ll develop a range of skills and knowledge that can lead to a rewarding career in the butchery profession, not only in the UK, but around the world. If you’re an entrepreneur, you may also set up on your own once you’re sufficiently qualified. Or you could progress to the advanced butcher level 3 apprentice, where you could move into production management, including roles with responsibility for people and functions such as sales, quality control or training others.

Duration: 18 months

Relevant school subjects: Food technology and business studies

Entry requirements for the butcher apprenticeship: Depend on employer, but likely GCSEs or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience

Achievement upon completion: Level 2 (Intermediate)—equivalent to GCSEs or advanced butcher Level 3 (Advanced)—equivalent to A-levels

Potential salary upon completion: £22,000 per annum

Find out more: www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk