Butchery Apprentice

ABP UK

Shropshire (SY1 4AH)

Closes on Sunday 1 February 2026

Posted on 8 December 2025

Print

Contents

Summary

As a Butchery Apprentice at ABP UK, you'll gain foundational knowledge and practical skills in butchery, contributing to the production of award-winning British and Irish beef and lamb products. You'll learn about quality, efficiency, traceability, sustainability, animal welfare, stress prevention, and lean manufacturing practices.

Wage

£19,760 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Starting salary for this role will start at £9.50 per hour but during the programme this will increase depending on skill level.

Training course
Butcher (level 2)
Hours
Monday to Friday At the beginning of the programme, this role will start at 8am with a gradual move onto shift which starts at 6.30am. Depending on production, the end of shift will vary.

40 hours a week

Start date

Saturday 14 February 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

8

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

Ready to carve out your career in the meat industry? Join our Butchery Apprenticeship Programme and learn from the best in the business!

Why Choose ABP UK?

  • Hands-On Experience: Dive into the world of butchery with real, hands-on learning from day one
  • Career Growth: This is more than just a job - it's a launchpad for a dynamic career in the meat industry, with opportunities to advance into specialised roles or management
  • Sustainability: Work with a company committed to animal welfare and securing our business for the future
  • Professional Development: Gain qualifications and skills that are recognised by the Institute of Meat (IoM)
  • Supportive Team: Learn from experienced mentors and be part of a supportive, dynamic team

Key Responsibilities:

  • Learn the Basics: Acquire foundational knowledge in butchery principles, meat species, and carcass processing techniques
  • Master Your Craft: Develop knife skills for cutting, boning, trimming, and mincing meat
  • Gain Industry Insight: Understand the meat sector's history, values, culture, and traditions
  • Team Collaboration: Work with the team to meet deadlines and productivity targets
  • Maintain Standards: Adhere to health, food safety, and hygiene standards
  • Support Operations: Assist in stock control, quality assurance, and customer expectations

Where you'll work

ABP Shrewsbury,
1 Battlefield Rd,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire
SY1 4AH

Training

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

Training provider

MERCURI INTERNATIONAL (UK) LIMITED

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.

Training schedule

Butcher Level 2.

Training will be delivered on site by our external training provider.

Requirements

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Attention to detail
  • Team working
  • Physical fitness

About this employer

ABP Food Group is one of Europe’s leading integrated agri-food businesses, with divisions specialising in food production, pet food and renewables. Over our 70-year history, we have grown to 14,000 strong team and have built a reputation for quality and innovation. ABP UK, part of the ABP Food Group produces quality fresh and frozen beef, lamb and frozen meat-free products to some of the nations leading supermarkets and restaurants, including a number of Michelin Star establishments!

http://www.abp-earlycareers.com (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

At ABP UK, there are a variety of benefits on offer such as Cycle to Work Scheme, subsidised onsite canteen offering hot and cold meals, Employee Assist Programme offering free, confidential support to you and your family and much more!

After this apprenticeship

Future Career Path Progression.

Upon completing your apprenticeship, you'll gain qualifications including:

  • Level 2 Food Safety Award
  • Level 2 Health & Safety in the Food Supply Chain Award
  • Level 2 Knife Skills Award

This apprenticeship is a stepping stone to advanced qualifications and specialised roles within ABP UK. You'll also be recognised by the Institute of Meat (IoM), enabling you to use the initials M.Inst.M. Continue your journey in sustainable butchery, retail, or further education in the broader meat industry.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MERCURI INTERNATIONAL (UK) LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000004395.

Apply now

Closes on Sunday 1 February 2026

Sign in with your GOV.UK One Login to apply.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.