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Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butchers celebrate ‘future proofed’ apprenticeship at their Annual Prizegiving

In addition to applauding the achievements of exceptional individuals and organisations, the Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butchers had further reason to celebrate today. The Butcher Standard Apprenticeship, launched here in Butchers Hall a decade ago, has been formally updated ‘future proofing’ industry-wide butchery skills for the next generation of butchery apprentices.

Over 140 guests gathered to see apprentices, training providers and employers involved in the award-winning apprenticeship receive their prizes, presented by Keith Fisher (F.Inst.M), Chief Executive of the Institute of Meat together with John Allton Jones, Master of The Worshipful Company of Butchers.

In total, twelve awards were presented to the following worthy winners:

WINNER AWARD EMPLOYER PROPOSER

AWARD SPONSOR
Mea Iliffe Best New Apprentice Ringrose Butchers Crosby Management Training Windsor Food Machinery
Daniel Powell Best Retail Butchery Apprentice Priors West Lynn Poultec National Craft Butchers
Kate Bleach Best Independent Retailer Meat
Apprentice		 Grange Farm Plumpton College Dalziel Ltd.
Lewis Hartley Best In-Store Multiple Retailer Butchery Apprentice Morrisons PLC Remit Training IoM (Paul Edkins Memorial Cup)
Luca McDougall Best Meat Processing Apprentice Cranswick
Country Foods		 Bishop Burton British Meat Processors Association
Adil Nadeem Best Abattoir Worker/Apprentice Morrisons PLC Workforce Training & Development ABP Food Group
Eimear Hunter Best Apprentice Showing Management Potential
in a Manufacturing Environment		 ABP  Food Group CAFRE Worshipful Company of Poulters
Laurissa
Barriball		 Best Meat Apprentice Showing Real Management Potential Brian Etherington Meat Company MEAT Ipswich Oakfield Foods Ltd.
Patrick Kelly Lord Graham
Endeavour Award		 Days of Ashwell
Ltd		 MEAT Ipswich IoM (Kenneth Jenkins Cup)
ABP Master Butcher Training Programme Best Company
Training Scheme		 ABP Food Group Institute of Meat
MEAT Ipswich
Ltd		 Best Meat
Training Provider		 WCB (Fred Mallion Bowl)

Award Winners 2025

The category winners each received a cheque for £250, a framed certificate and a year’s free membership of the Institute of Meat.

The most prized award, ‘Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year’, went to Laurissa Barriball of the Brian Etherington Meat Company. Laurissa received a winner’s trophy and certificate, a year’s free membership of the IoM and an additional cash prize of £500. The judges were impressed with Laurissa’s interest in developing value added meat products and desire to pass on her skills to future apprentices.

Champion Apprentice Laurissa Barriball with The Master, John Allton Jones

Commenting on the prizegiving, Fisher said,

‘We had a record number of nominations this year, which along with our revitalised butchery apprenticeship is a real indication of the enthusiasm and confidence surrounding butchery today. I’m only sorry we couldn’t award more apprentices. The standard of applicants was superb – it grows stronger every year.’

Also celebrated on the day was the awarding of 13 new Institute of Meat accredited Master Butchers. All have successfully completed the Institute of Meat’s rigorous assessment process and now qualify to use the Master Butcher post nominal letters, MB.Inst.M. The newly recognised Master Butchers are:

Daniel McQueen  (MB.Inst.M) Booker Group
James Brindley  (MB.Inst.M) Booker Group
John Bye  (MB.Inst.M) Booker Group
Shaun Noble (MB.Inst.M) Booker Group
Shane Morley  (MB.Inst.M) Booker Group
Scott Edney  (MB.Inst.M) ABP Beef
Harry Pritchard  (MB.Inst.M) ABP Beef
Martin Player  (MB.Inst.M) Oriel Jones
Shaun Jones  (MB.Inst.M) Oriel Jones
Robert Powell  (MB.Inst.M) Dunbia
Paul Nicholson  (MB.Inst.M) Bishop Burton College
George Clapham  (MB.Inst.M) Dunbia
Martin Neely  (MB.Inst.M) Highland Meats

 

Master Butchers 2025

Pam Brook, past editor of Meat Management Magazine, was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Meat for her services to the meat industry over many years.

Bill Jermey, Pam Brook and John Allton Jones

 

Reflecting on the day, Bill Jermey, Chairman of the Institute of Meat, concluded,

‘The British meat industry has to adapt constantly to meet the changing demands of consumers. To do that we need the right training, the right people and the right mindset. That’s what we are celebrating today – we have it all within this room.’

For more information about the prizegiving or how to nominate an apprentice, please contact Sheryl Horne at the Institute of Meat, info@instituteofmeat.org

To find out more about the updated butchery apprenticeship and end-point assessment visit FDQ.org.uk. or email fdq@FDQ.org.uk.

Entries Open for Inaugural British Butchery Awards

The countdown has begun for a landmark event in the butchery industry. On June 30th, 2025, the first-ever British Butchery Awards will take place, offering a grand stage to celebrate the best in the field. Organized by the National Craft Butchers, these awards will honour the finest talents in our industry across the UK.

Entry Categories

We are inviting entries for the title of Best Large & Small Butchery Business in regions throughout the UK, including Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, North of England, South of England, and the Midlands.

Entries will have initial judging before the finalists from each category will receive a mystery shop. With the winner announced at the Black-tie awards dinner held at The Belfry in Nottingham!

The evening will also see the announcement of the nation’s Best Wholesale/Catering Butcher, Best Young Butcher and Best Butchery Supplier, along with the Special Recognition Award.

The British Butchery Awards promise a spectacular evening celebrating the craft of butchery and offering excellent networking opportunities with industry leaders, supporters, and peers.

Eleanor O’Brien, Managing Director of National Craft Butchers, expressed the organisation’s enthusiasm:

We are blessed with some of the most talented butchers in the world. The British Butchery Awards offers them the chance to have their moment in the limelight and be recognised by their fellow butchers

How to Get Involved

Entries open Monday 6th January 2025 – further details here

Whether you are a seasoned butcher or a rising star in the industry, this is your moment to shine and shout about our fantastic industry. Join us in celebrating the passion, skill, and dedication of the butchery industry. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of history at the inaugural British Butchery Awards!

Stay updated on entry details and announcements, follow @nationalcraftbutchers & @britishbutcheryawards on social media and bookmark British Butchery Awards .

The event is supported by industry organisations Scottish Craft Butchers, The Q Guild, and the Institute of Meat.

With thanks to all our sponsors

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

National Craft Butchers
Email: info@nationalcraftbutchers.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1892541412

Ready Steady Go! Nominations are now open for the meat industry’s Annual Prizegiving 2025

The hunt is on to uncover the best of the best in the meat industry.

Nominations are now open for the prestigious Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butchers Annual Prizegiving which rewards outstanding butchery and abattoir apprentices, as well as recognising the excellent training providers and company training schemes that support them.

Do you have a butchery apprentice in your midst who is an absolute star?

Someone who goes above and beyond the day job to succeed in their apprenticeship or is overcoming adversity to achieve their goals?

If so, the Institute of Meat wants to hear from you.

Who knows? In February 2025 the applause could be for them, as they step forward to receive their award, and their £250 prize of course!

Since the Butcher Standard apprenticeship launched back in 2015 around 1800 apprentices have achieved their butchery apprenticeship or are currently on programme. The apprenticeship is credited with having revitalised the profession and helped restore the mastery of the craft.

One of the most special events in the meat industry calendar, the Annual Prizegiving is loved by all, including royalty, as in previous years HRH The Princess Royal has attended to present the awards. Set in the iconic home of Butchers Hall in London, it is sure to inspire every apprentice and offers great networking opportunities for all that attend.

With twelve categories to choose from, there’s an opportunity for everyone – whether working in a retail butchers, a meat processing facility, an abattoir or a supermarket.

So, don’t delay – Nominate your apprentice online here today

Or for more information email shorne@instituteofmeat.org

 

2024 Champion Apprentice Helena Akroyd