Apprentice Butcher

MEON VALLEY BUTCHERS LTD

FAREHAM (PO17 5JG)

Closes in 27 days (Monday 17 August 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 17 July 2026


Summary

Are you passionate about food and interested in developing a rewarding career in butchery? We are looking for an enthusiastic Apprentice Butcher to join our friendly team! 

You will learn valuable skills in a supportive environment, gain a Level 2 butchery qualification and have staff discounts on quality meat and products.

Wage

Competitive

Competitive wage offered

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  • Aged under 18: £8 per hour rising to £11 afterfirst year.
  • Aged 18-20: £9 per hour rising to £11 after first year.
  • Aged 21+: £10 per hour rising to £13 after first year

Training course
Butcher (level 2)
Hours
Tuesday to Friday, 9:30am - 5:30pm, with 1 hour unpaid lunch. Saturday, 7:30am - 4:30pm, with 1 hour unpaid lunch.

36 hours a week

Start date

Tuesday 18 August 2026

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

What you'll do:

  • Learn the art of meat preparation, sausage making and butchery skills
  • Assist with daily tasks in the shop, including customer service
  • Gain hands-on experience with different cuts of meat and food safety standards
  • Support the team in maintaining a clean and organised workspace
  • Work towards a Level 2 Butchery qualification and keep up to date with coursework

Where you'll work

THE SQUARE
WICKHAM
FAREHAM
PO17 5JG

Training

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

Training provider

MEAT EAST ANGLIA TRADES (IPSWICH) 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

This training schedule has not been finalised. Check with this employer if you’ll need to travel to a college or training location for this apprenticeship.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade C/4)
  • Maths (grade C/4)

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

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Team working
  • Eager to learn
  • Enthusiastic

Other requirements

Heavy lifting and working in cold environments at times.

About this employer

We are a local independent artisan butchers shop offering top-quality, ethically sourced meat from local producers.

http://www.meonvalleybutchers.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

  • Staff socials and Christmas party
  • Staff discounts on quality meat and products
  • Pension scheme
  • An additional day of holiday for your birthday

After this apprenticeship

Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).

Level 3 qualification and management training.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

MEAT EAST ANGLIA TRADES (IPSWICH) LIMITED

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000043340.

Apply now

Closes in 27 days (Monday 17 August 2026 at 11:59pm)