Stars of the meat industry are awarded
The event celebrated the achievements of butchers, their employers and training providers from across the UK.
The IoM ceo and master of ceremonies, Keith Fisher, an IoM master butcher, presided over the event, which involved the presentation of 12 awards to recipients from a wide range of industry backgrounds (see panel below).
‘An honourable profession’
“Butchery is an honourable profession with a rich heritage,” said Fisher at the awards ceremony. “The winners awarded today are a credit to the profession and embody the high standards that the Institute of Meat prides itself on.”
The overall winner, the ‘Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year’, chosen from the individual categories, was Samuel Deighton, from Plumpton College. He received a year’s free membership of the IoM along with a cash prize of £500.
“Every year the quality of the nominations appears to get better, and all are worthy winners,” said Bill Jermey, chairman of the IoM.
“Sam impressed us by how he used his apprenticeship to overcome his dyslexia and lack of confidence, by becoming completely involved in the process of making quality meat and meat products with an impressive work ethic.”
High standards and expertise
In celebration of the high standards and expertise of experienced butchers too, 11 professional butchers were awarded the IoM Accredited Master Butcher Award (MB.Inst.M). They were: Eamonn Nash, Mark Rogers, Kevin Hawkins, David Munden, Alan Cox, James Doherty, Shaun Stockhill and Scott Robertson, all from Booker Cash and Carry.
Steven Dobson and Richard Jones from Dunbia and Kevin Meades from Crosby Management Training, were also awarded MB.Inst.Ms. Currently, there are just 30 MB.Inst.Ms in the country.
Other awards presented on the day were, The Gary Baker Award, to Helen Whalley from Harper Adams University, and a Fellowship of the Institute of Meat to Dr Phil Hadley, for his contribution to the meat industry over many years.
The 2017 IoM WCB prize-winners
Samuel Deighton, Plumpton College, Best New Apprentice Progressing on a Trailblazer Standard
Tara Davies, Crosby Butchery Training, Best Retail Butchery Student
Daniel Turley, Crosby Butchery Training, Best Meat Processing Student
Rui Pedro Gomes Sousa, Poultec, Best Poultry Industry Student
Martin Naan, Southern Regional College, Best Independent Retail Meat Apprentice
William Pountney, Shropshire Training, Best Meat Manufacturing Apprentice
Kyle Fisher, Southern Regional College, Best Full Time Professional Butchery Student
Matthew Smith, Plumpton College, Meat Apprentice Showing Most Management Promise
Dunbia, Best Company Training Scheme
Crosby Butchery Training, Best Meat Training Provider of the Year
Harry Clarke, Meat (Ipswich), Lord Graham Endeavour Award (sponsored by sister title Meat Trades Journal)
Samuel Deighton, Plumpton College, Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year
