Women scoop apprenticeship accolades at meat industry awards night

Of the 10 individual awards, seven were won by women. Mia Tamburrini of Morgan’s Butchery also took home the award for Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year.

The category winners each received a cheque for £250, a framed certificate and a year’s free membership of the Institute of Meat. The overall winner took home an additional cash prize of £500.

‘Talented young people’

Institute of Meat chief executive and co-host of the awards ceremony said: “It gives me great pleasure to receive so many nominations and read about so many talented young people, especially at a time when our industry is being tested yet again.​

“Like the meat industry, our winners will need to be resilient in the years ahead. Today’s award, when combined with hard work and determination, could be the springboard to many future successes.”​

The awards also saw five highly skilled butchers receive Institute of Meat accredited Master Butcher Status. The accreditation is a means of recognising excellence in the field of butchery skills and knowledge.

‘Serious about their craft’

Bill Jeremy, Institute of Meat chairman and developer of the accreditation said: “Butchers applying for Master Butcher accreditation are serious about their craft. They submit themselves to a rigorous four-stage assessment process, during which they must impress not only the Institute of Meat but also independent moderators. ​

“Taking months from start to finish it is not for the faint hearted, but the Master Butchers recognised today are all deserving of the title. I heartily congratulate them.”​

Other awards given during the prizegiving included: Best Company Training Scheme, which went to Cranstons; and Best Meat Training Provider, collected by Crosby Butchery Training. ABP Commercial Manager Dave Smith was awarded ‘Fellow’ of the Institute of Meat, while outgoing ftc board chairman John Proctor was given an Honorary Fellowship.

Meanwhile, take a step inside the 2023 Food Manufacture Excellence Awards (FMEAs) with this exclusive video of the night.​​