Carve out a career with apprenticeship role at Northumberland butcher

If so, a rare opportunity has arisen for an apprenticeship with an award-winning Northumberland butcher.

Turnbull’s of Alnwick wants to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated full-time butchery apprentice whose tasks would include cutting, boning and preparing meat.

The successful candidate, working alongside experienced butchers in the shop and cutting and processing unit, will be given the opportunity to learn the necessary skills to become a fully qualified butcher.

They hope to develop one of the country’s best young apprentice butchers, competing in national competitions and perhaps even following in the footsteps of their most recent apprentice, Robert Darling, who won a Young Butcher of the Year award in June.

Mark Turnbull, who runs the business with his son Daniel, said: “We have been delighted with the way Robert has developed his skills as an apprentice butcher and as his training providers, Meat Ipswich have been a fantastic resource. His national award is recognition of his hard work and dedication to learning the trade.

“Given we are going through a global pandemic that is seeing record unemployment figures, it’s a positive note for us to be looking for another apprentice and hopefully Britain’s next best young butcher of the year.

"This is a great industry and as the pandemic has proved, a trade that is required to feed the nation.”

A spokesman for MEAT Ipswich said “Butchery apprenticeships have transformed in recent years, with the introduction of new apprenticeship based on ‘standards’ raising the bar on training in the meat industry.”

It has been a busy year for Turnbull’s with the opening of the Northumbrian Food Hall on Willowburn Retail Park to supplement its town centre shop on Market Street.

The sixth-generation family business was established in 1880.

The role will involve: Cutting, boning and preparing meat, processing meat, stock control, creating meat displays, preparing customer orders, serving customers and advising on meat cookery, answering the phone, filling counters with stock, washing down and cleaning relevant areas and completing relevant record-keeping.

To apply, or to learn more, please email your CV to: [email protected]

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