Apprentice Butcher

BLACKER HALL FARM SHOP LTD

WAKEFIELD (WF4 3DN)

Closes in 30 days (Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 12 February 2026

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Summary

We’re looking for a motivated Butchery Apprentice to join our experienced team and learn a craft that can build a long-term career. Over the years, we’ve trained several apprentices who are still with us today, progressing through the business and becoming key members of the butchery team.

Wage

£11,778 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)

Training course
Butcher (level 2)
Hours
Exact working hours TBC during the interview process. However, this will be a full-time position, working a minimum of 30-hours a week across various days, this may include weekend availability.

30 hours a week

Start date

Thursday 2 April 2026

Duration

1 year 9 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

As part of the team, you will develop skills in:

  • Traditional and modern butchery techniques
  • Knife skills, cutting, boning, trimming, and product preparation
  • Working with high-quality, locally sourced meat from our family farm
  • Food safety, hygiene, and traceability
  • Stock management and minimising waste
  • Customer service within a busy, high‑standard retail environment

Where you'll work

BRANCH ROAD
CALDER GROVE
WAKEFIELD
WF4 3DN

Training

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

Training provider

LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP

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.

You will mostly develop your knowledge and skills on the job at Blacker Hall Farm, whilst also studying at Leeds City College (Print Works Campus) every Tuesday.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

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

Skills

  • Keen to learn a trade
  • Reliable and hardworking
  • Enjoys a hands-on role
  • Interest in food and farming
  • Ambition for long-term career

Other requirements

Please apply if you can reliably commute to the working address and work weekends where required.

About this employer

Welcome to Blacker Hall Farm – a family-run Yorkshire farm shop, restaurant and events destination. From our own farm-reared meat and handmade food to seasonal events and unforgettable days out, there’s always something happening. At Blacker Hall Farm, everything starts with our family farm. We grow, rear, make and source food we’re proud of, from our award-winning butchery and handmade pies to seasonal events, family experiences and a welcoming place to eat. Whether you’re visiting us in person or shopping online, you’ll find quality, care and a warm Yorkshire welcome at the heart of everything we do.

After this apprenticeship

We have had butchery apprentices for several years, who have moved into other positions after their apprenticeship. After you have completed the Level 2 Butchery apprenticeship, we have progression routes within the business so that you can continue to develop with Blacker Hall Farm.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

LUMINATE EDUCATION GROUP

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000012066.

Apply now

Closes in 30 days (Monday 16 March 2026 at 11:59pm)