To date, 210 apprentices have completed training to provide practical skills and qualifications in all aspects of butchery for the meat processing industry.
Dunbia’s plant in Saltcoats, Highland Meats, has seen particular success with the Butchery Academy, with 17 apprentices having taken part in training at the site since it was launched in 2019.
Dedicated to apprentices
A total of 10 apprentices have fully completed the programme and seven due to complete the course this year. The meat firm has dedicated a full section of one of their production lines at Highland Meats to train apprentices.
Dawn Meats chief executive said: “The Butchery Academy is showing that butchery is a viable and sought-after career choice, delivering a critical skill for the food industry. We are fortunate to get such high-quality produce from our suppliers around the UK and Ireland, and that produce is deserving of the best handling right through the production process.
“There is a serious shortage of skilled labour across the industry at the moment, but we are committed to investing in high quality training for our team to ensure standards are maintained.”
Threat to butchery
Dunbia noted that while there has been an increase in those choosing butchery as a career path in the UK in recent years, the impact of the pandemic and rising living costs is a threat for the industry.
Chris Brawls, Dunbia Butchery Academy trainer and mentor, added: “It's important that we do not lose the craft of butchery. Our focus is on providing the consumer with the best possible food experience, and butchery is a key aspect of that journey.
“Our apprentices receive a tailormade program which gives them tangible skills and opportunities to progress. This is an industry I have been in for over 30 years, and the core skills in butchery are ones I have carried with me throughout my career.”
