Butchery Apprentice

Summary

Grants Butchers is offering an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to begin their career in butchery through a Level 2 Butcher Apprenticeship. This hands-on role is perfect for someone who’s eager to learn traditional butchery skills and build a long-term future in the food industry.

Wage

£14,526.20 for your first year, then could increase depending on your age

National Minimum Wage rate for apprentices

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Wages to be discussed at interview stage.

Training course

Butcher (level 2)

Hours

Shifts to be discussed at interview stage.

37 hours a week

Start date

Saturday 2 August 2025

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

Learn how to prepare and cut different types of meat
Develop knife skills and knowledge of meat handling
Assist with serving customers and providing product information
Maintain cleanliness and follow food safety standards
Help with stock control, deliveries, and displays
Work alongside experienced butchers and receive on-the-job training

Where you'll work

MINSHULLS NURSERY
EARDSWICK LANE
MINSHULL VERNON
CREWE
CW1 4RQ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

REASEHEATH COLLEGE

Your training course

Butcher (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
Maintains and sharpens knives and cutting equipment.
Manual handling of carcases or primals through the manufacturing or butchery process.
Adhere to the organisational policies and standard operating procedures.
Maintain the meat product to the given customer specification and food safety compliance and traceability procedures in the meat supply chain.
Support colleagues in delivering the daily workplace requirements.
Use technology and applications to support production, sales, and customer service.
Contribute to continuous improvement activities which focus on improving sustainability within the business.
Communicate with customers and stakeholders to meet their requirements.
Process and dispose of waste material.
Uses knives and cutting equipment to undertake a range of primary and secondary butchery skills.
Serve customers in line with brand standards.
Advise customers on the use by dates, storage, preparation, and cooking of meat products.
Prepare, produce, and display meat products such as joints, portions, sausages, burgers, value-added products and offer alternative products when required.
Plan and prepare for seasonal supply and demand of meat products in the merchandising and promotion of seasonal foods.
Provide provenance and heritage product information.
Set up and close meat counter displays.
Balance the customers’ needs with additional linked products and services such as marinades, and encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
Produce meat to the specific volume, size, and weight to meet the needs of stakeholders.
Maximise the saleable yield for the business relating to carcases or primals.
Contribute to efficiencies to support the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the business through working to agreed specifications for their role.
Adhere to customer specifications and contracts.
Contribute to foreign body control and metal detection.
Meet key performance indicators within meat processing.
Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
Maintains and sharpens knives and cutting equipment.
Manual handling of carcases or primals through the manufacturing or butchery process.
Adhere to the organisational policies and standard operating procedures.
Maintain the meat product to the given customer specification and food safety compliance and traceability procedures in the meat supply chain.
Support colleagues in delivering the daily workplace requirements.
Use technology and applications to support production, sales, and customer service.
Contribute to continuous improvement activities which focus on improving sustainability within the business.
Communicate with customers and stakeholders to meet their requirements.
Process and dispose of waste material.
Uses knives and cutting equipment to undertake a range of primary and secondary butchery skills.

Your training plan

The butchery apprenticeship training will take place 1 day a week at Reaseheath College. This will be 12 to 18 months depending on previous experience
At the end of this apprenticeship, you will achieve an intermediate apprenticeship in Level 2 butchery and Apprentices must achieve Level 2 Food Safety Award, Level 2 Health & Safety in the Food Supply Chain Award, and Level 2 Knife Skills Award prior to taking the end-point assessment
Apprentices without functional skills level 1 or equivalent English and mathematics will need to achieve this level and take the test for level 2 English and mathematics prior to taking the end-point assessment
Progression after achieving the Level 2 Apprenticeship candidates can progress through to a Level 3 advanced apprenticeship in butchery

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English, Maths (grade 4 / C and above)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Presentation skills
Logical
Team working
Creative

About this company

Grants Butchers is a trusted, family-run business proudly serving Crewe, Nantwich, and beyond for over three decades. Located at Minshull’s Nurseries on Eardswick Lane, Crewe (CW1 4RQ), we are renowned for offering the finest quality meats and exceptional customer service. Our team is dedicated to providing a wide selection of premium meats, including traditional cuts, sausages, and bespoke orders. We take pride in our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, ensuring that every visit is a pleasant experience.

https://grantsbutchers.com (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Looking for someone to stay within the business that is keen and motivated to join the team long term.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is: