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Over one hundred guests gathered today in Butchers Hall to applaud the achievements of butchery apprentices, their employers and training providers at the IoM/WCB Annual Prizegiving.
Though the meat industry is age-old this years’ prizegiving proved that attitudes certainly aren’t – as more than half of the apprentice winners this year were women.
Presiding over this prestigious event was Institute of Meat Chief Executive, Keith Fisher (F.Inst.M), with current Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, Andrew Parker, presenting the awards.
The twelve category winners were:
| AWARD | WINNER | EMPLOYER | SPONSOR |
| Best New Apprentice | Emily Jackson | Westmorland Family | Windsor Food Machinery Limited |
| Best Retailer Butchery Apprentice | Emma Guillemer | Provenance Village Butcher | National Craft Butchers |
| Best Independent Retailer Apprentice | Daniel Figg | J.F. Bishop | Dalziel Limited |
| Best Multiple Retailer Butchery Apprentice | Adam Howarth | Morrisons | IoM (Paul Edkins Memorial Cup) |
| Best Meat Processing Apprentice | Jessica Kellaway | ABP Guildford | Oakfield Foods Limited |
| Best Abattoir Worker/Apprentice | Willem Borst | Morrisons | ABP Food Group |
| Best Apprentice Showing Management Potential in a Manufacturing Environment | Vincenza Cesano | ABP Guildford | Worshipful Company of Poulters |
| Best Meat Apprentice Showing Real Management Potential | Mia Tamburrini | Morgan’s Butchery | British Meat Processors Association |
| Lord Graham Endeavour Award | Amelia Dayson | Firths Quality Meats | Meat Trades Journal (William Reed) |
| Best Company Training Scheme | Cranstons | IoM (Kenneth Jenkins Cup) | |
| Best Training Provider | Crosby Butchery Training | WCB (Fred Mallion Bowl) | |
| Champion Meat Apprentice | Mia Tamburrini | Morgan’s Butchery | Meat Management (Yandell Media) |
The category winners each received a cheque for £250, a framed certificate and a years free membership of the Institute of Meat.
The overall winner, ‘Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year’, Mia Tamburrini, received a winners trophy and certificate, a years free membership of the IoM plus an additional cash prize of £500.
Champion Meat Apprentice Mia Tamburrini receiving her award from The Master, Andrew Parker
Commenting on the event and winners Keith Fisher 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.’
Five highly skilled butchers were also recognised on the day by being awarded Institute of Meat accredited Master Butcher status. They received their awards from Institute of Meat Chairman, Bill Jermey, who first developed the IoM Master Butcher accreditation as a means of recognising excellence in the field of butchery skills and knowledge.
They were:
| Steven Russell (MB.Inst.M) | Booker Group |
| Letitia Redfern (MB.Inst.M) | Booker Group |
| Gary Levey (MB.Inst.M) | Sparsholt College |
| Anthony Davies (MB.Inst.M) | Dunbia |
| James Hutchinson (MB.Inst.M) | Sofina Foods Ltd |
Fellows and Master Butchers
When asked about the Institute of Meat Master Butcher accreditation Bill Jermey 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 were: 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 and lastly, outgoing ftc Board Chairman, John Proctor, was given an Honorary Fellowship.
For more information about the prize-giving or how to nominate an apprentice, please contact Sheryl Horne at the Institute of Meat, info@instituteofmeat.org
On 26th October 2022 IoM members had the privilege to visit Genus ABS in Llanrhydd, a world leading animal genetics company. They supply high-quality breeding animals with desirable characteristics to farmers, enabling them to produce better quality meat and milk more efficiently to feed the world more sustainably.
The visiting IoM group were given a fascinating presentation by Hafina Cordiner, Breeding Programme Co-ordinator, Mark Smith and Gemma Wark who explained how they analyze the animals’ DNA then select the animals with the strongest genetic profile to produce even better offspring. These superior animals are distributed to customers in the form of animals, semen or embryos.
Members of the visiting group included ABP, Smithfield Murray, MEAT Ipswich and one of our Master Butchers, Jim Doherty.
The group was shown around their cutting-edge laboratory facilities by Meagan Ellis who explained the technology that enables Genus to process semen for desirable traits, such as female sex for the dairy market, and licence-in technology to make precise gene edits to animals’ DNA which they are employing in their R&D programmes to produce animals which are resistant to fatal disease.
Keith Fisher, chief executive of the IoM said: “The visit was really informative and incredible to see how much progress had been made since a similar visit in 2018. The Genus team made us very welcome and put on a great presentation.”
A fine example of one of the elite bulls
Members were also treated to a parade of their elite bulls who were presented to us in magnificent condition.
ABS breeds genetically elite bulls in three continents. The best bulls come to one of ABS’s six stud locations, where their semen is collected for distribution as a frozen ‘straw’ of semen or used to create embryos for sale.
Ralph Early, one of our ‘Fellow’ members’ said, “he found it very exciting to learn something of what Genus are doing and the potentials in genomics and gene-editing from their perspective”.
All members agreed that the visit was most insightful into the world of gnenomics.
Nominations are now open for The Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butchers Annual Prize-giving and lunch, which takes place on Thursday 23rd February 2023, at Butchers Hall, London.
As many of the individual awards are given to apprentices the event provides an opportunity for talented apprentices to be recognised for their efforts. With 12 categories to choose from there’s plenty of opportunity for individuals and companies to win.
Categories as follows:
- Best New Apprentice
- Best Retail Butchery Apprentice
- Best Independent Retailer Meat Apprentice
- Best Multiple Retailer Butchery Apprentice
- Best Meat Processing Apprentice
- Best Abattoir Worker Apprentice
- Best Apprentice Showing Management
- Potential in a Manufacturing Environment
- Best Meat Apprentice Showing Retail Management Potential
- Lord Graham Endeavour Award
- Best Company Training Scheme
- Best Meat Training Provider of the Year
- Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year
Winners cash prizes
Winning apprentices take home a cheque for £250 and a framed certificate detailing their achievement. In addition, the Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year also receives a cheque for £500.
Institute of Meat membership
Winners are also awarded a one year honorary membership of the Institute of Meat.
Publicity for businesses
Professional photography and template press releases are available to all winners to enable employers to generate local publicity for their businesses.
How to nominate your apprentice
- Download a nomination form
- Enter online
- Criteria Details
For further information about the Prize-giving readers should email Sheryl Horne or call her on 01525 371641.
As yet another small abattoir closes – is time running out for locally produced meat?
Tomorrow, Glossop based butcher John Mettrick will turn off the lights in his small abattoir for the last time. The irony of the situation is not lost on him. As Chair of the Abattoir Sector Group, co-founded with National Craft Butchers, the Sustainable Food Trust, and others, he plays a key role in the fight to save small abattoirs. He has also proudly opened the doors of his abattoir to the BBC for their ground-breaking Kill it, Cook it, Eat it programme, appeared on Countryfile, and spoken on national news about the vital role local abattoirs play in the rural economy. Yet now, over one hundred years and five generations of Mettricks later, the abattoir side of the family business has become the latest casualty in the battle.
Local abattoirs are a vital part of the infrastructure that enables consumers to buy high quality, locally produced, traceable meat. Meat from animals reared by small scale farmers who care deeply about their livestock. Meat from animals that have travelled the shortest possible distance to slaughter, reducing stress for them whilst also minimising damage to the environment.
However, according to the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) figures, small abattoirs are closing at a rate of 10% each year – meaning that within a decade they may disappear altogether. Yet demand for locally produced, environmentally responsible meat is growing, so why are small abattoirs like Mettrick’s closing at such an alarming rate?
Although the issue is complex, John feels it can be distilled into two core reasons, which lie behind the closure of his own abattoir business: inappropriate and burdensome regulation, and inexperienced on-site official veterinarians (OVs). Both contribute to conflict rather than collaboration and can demoralise staff who then leave the industry which is already suffering a crippling shortage of labour following Brexit. Morale has never been lower. For Mettricks this became painfully clear when their Institute of Meat award-winning, fully qualified slaughterman along with two fully qualified butchers decided to leave the industry giving John with no choice but to close the abattoir.
Regulation for the industry has been designed with large scale abattoirs and their customers in mind. As such it is overly complicated and simply unworkable in small abattoirs, where the owner is often the slaughter man and the person responsible for dealing with all regulatory requirements. According to John,
“The FSA acknowledges that the present one size fits all system does not work and through a 5-year programme (OTP) say they hope to be able to deliver a risk based proportional approach to regulation in the future. However, this will require legislative change to have any chance of a meaningful impact. The refusal from the UK Government to utilise even existing legislation to support small abattoirs means that in the meantime many, like my own, will have no choice but to close.”
Post BREXIT there has also been a shortage of highly qualified, experienced Official Veterinarians (OVs). As a result, Mettrick says it is not unusual for small abattoirs to become inspected by OVs who have limited experience of a low throughput multi species abattoirs, and some can ‘become bored or overzealous.’
The shock waves caused by the closure of a local abattoir are felt throughout the rural economy. Those affected most from the Mettricks shut down, apart from Brian their highly skilled slaughterman of 21 years, will be the 200 farmers who relied on the abattoir and cutting room services to run their businesses and who will struggle to find an alternative local processor. They are appalled at the closure, and many have messaged Mettricks directly:
‘It’s a massive shame. With Baileys shutting as well, it feels like all the people that actually care about what they do, are shutting…. I guess I will carry on best I can, but I feel that I am at the mercy of bigger market forces.’
‘I am just so so sad, not only for the loss of service to small producers, but for your staff. As I said, quite tearfully to be honest, I wouldn’t be doing what I am today if it hadn’t been for the guidance and support of you and your very patient and knowledgeable staff. ‘
Richard Young, Policy Director at Sustainable Food Trust had this to say,
“This is a very ominous development for all those farmers who manage to make ends meet by selling high quality meat from their own animals direct to consumers. If one of the best and most impressive small abattoirs in the country is forced to close, then yet more will follow. While farmers will try to find another abattoir, in many areas there are now no suitable alternatives and some of the farmers will eventually be forced out of business, as a result. The beneficiaries will be the supermarkets whose share of the meat market will grow further.”
John, also Legislation Director of National Craft Butchers, is understandably bitter,
‘Whilst Foreign Secretary Liz Truss celebrates trade deals, in truth the Government has taken their eye off the ball domestically and is in effect sacrificing small businesses in pursuit of these deals. The Government talk about the importance of animal welfare with short distances to slaughter, local meat, sustainably produced, but policy does not represent that. Their inaction is effectively killing off the very businesses that help deliver these objectives. Livestock farmers who wish to market their own meat, rare breed producers and other small businesses are being left high and dry as more abattoirs close.’
Product entries by the hundred have been arriving at the Regional Food Academy test kitchens, located at Harper Adams University, Shropshire, where this year’s product judging for the Meat Management Industry Awards is underway.
A massive and diverse range of products have been delivered by companies large and small from right across the industry. The panel of judges headed up by Keith Fisher, the CEO of the Institute of Meat, has now started the process of evaluating entries.
The results will be revealed later this year at the popular ceremony scheduled for 15th September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, when Britain’s biggest event of its type for the meat industry will bring together guests and awards partners to celebrate the best of the best.
Head judge Keith Fisher said: “As usual the range and diversity of products, and the companies and top brands that have entered is amazing and we have a very busy and exciting few days in prospect. These awards always stand out for the scope of what they cover and the substantial support the initiative attracts. The innovation and range is great to see and I look forward to joining colleagues, plus the finalists and winners at the awards ceremony later this year. An event that should not be missed.
I understand that the team of home economists responsible for cooking and preparing entries prior to judging have reported a very high standard of entry, which indicates a big job in prospect for those preparing the products in the kitchens and for the judges over the coming days.”
Sharon Yandell, the lead organiser for the MM Meat Industry Awards said: “I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to enter. The industry faces a variety of logistical problems right now and at such a busy period, and with pressure on staffing for many companies, it is not always easy to find the time. However, despite the problems we have a fantastic range of products to evaluate once again. “We are really looking forward to the next awards ceremony taking place on 15th September. We had a very special evening back in September last year and great support. With demand for tickets and tables likely to be high, I recommend an early visit to the website to reserve places for the September ceremony and to take advantage of an early bird booking discount.”
Click here for ticket information.
All commercial partnerships have already been taken for 2022 so for details of how to become a partner for the MM Meat Industry Awards in 2023 email Michelle Ingerfield: michelle.i@yandellmedia.com
The winners of the 2022 FMT Food Industry Awards were announced on Wednesday evening 25th May at a black-tie dinner and ceremony hosted by chef Matt Tebbutt of TV’s Saturday Kitchen, held at the 5-star Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
The delighted winners pictured with celebrity host Matt Tebbutt.
The winners of the 2022 FMT Food Industry Awards were announced on Wednesday evening 25th May at a black-tie dinner and ceremony hosted by chef Matt Tebbutt of TV’s Saturday Kitchen, held at the 5-star Royal Lancaster Hotel, London.
The evening’s most prestigious award, Food Industry Champion of the Year, went to Bill Jermey, former chief executive of the Food and Drink Training and Education Council (ftc) and current chairman of the Institute of Meat.
With a diverse career within the UK food industry, spanning half a century, Bill Jermey was recognised for his leadership and dedication to improving training schemes for all within the sector, and for his work in successfully lobbying government to add food manufacturing qualifications to its Lifetime Skills Guarantee programme.
To read the published article, please click here.
After COVID forced last years event to be cancelled, today the IoM and the WCB were finally able to celebrate and thank some outstanding members of the meat industry at their prestigious Annual Awards and prize-giving luncheon in the Butchers’ Hall.
Despite some sections being hit hard by COVID 19, the meat industry worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic to serve local communities and the wider British public.
It was then a fitting tribute and an honour to welcome a very special guest this year, HRH The Princess Royal, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers and Fellow of the Institute of Meat.
Bill Jermey, Keith Fisher and Margaret Boanas welcoming HRH The Princess Royal to The Butchers’ Hall
Over a hundred guests gathered in the Livery Hall to see apprentices, training providers and employers receive their awards, presented by Her Royal Highness and Keith Fisher (F.Inst.M), Chief Executive of the Institute of Meat.
Also presiding over the awards was Margaret Boanas, Master of the Worshipful Company since September 2021 and following in HRH The Princess Royal’s footsteps as one of only three women to have held this post.
In total 12 awards were given. The awards and winners were:
AWARD | SPONSOR | WINNER |
Best New Apprentice | Seymour Manufacturing International Ltd | Sarah Porter |
Best Retail Butchery Apprentice | National Craft Butchers | Josh Huitson |
Best Independent Retailer Meat Apprentice | Edkins Family and WCB | Robert Darling |
Best Multiple Retailer Butchery Apprentice | IoM | Letitia Redfern |
Best Meat Processing Apprentice | Oakfield (Foods) Ltd | Leon Edwards |
Best Abattoir Worker /Apprentice | ABP Food Group | Ionela Bacioiu |
Best Apprentice Showing Management Potential in a Manufacturing Environment | Worshipful Company of Poulters | Sean McGrath |
Best Meat Apprentice Showing Real Management Potential | Jenkins Family and WCB | Austin Howell |
Lord Graham Endeavour Award | Meat Trades Journal | Jonty Larkin |
Best Company Training | Windsor Food Machinery Ltd | Cooper Foods (Andover) Ltd |
Best Meat Training Provider of the Year | WCB | M.E.A.T. (Ipswich) Ltd |
Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year | Meat Management Magazine | Austin Howell |
The category winners each received a cheque for £250, a framed certificate and a years free membership of the Institute of Meat.
The overall winner, ‘Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year’, Austin Howell of Priory Farm Shop, Redhill, Surrey, received a winner’s trophy and certificate, a year’s free membership of the IoM and an additional cash prize of £500. Howell impressed the judges with how quickly he had progressed from being a young apprentice to taking the first step on the management ladder with his employer.
Austin Howell receiving Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year Award from HRH The Princess Royal
Also celebrated on the day was the awarding of seven new Institute of Meat accredited Master Butchers. In the last three decades of the awards less than 60 butchers have been awarded accredited Master Butcher status as the awarding criteria is rigorous and applications are invited only from very experienced and skilful butchers. The new IoM Master Butchers are:
Marc Murphy (MB.Inst.M) – Dunbia Group
Jason Moore (MB.Inst.M) – Newlyn’s Farm Shop, Hook
Peter Howarth (MB.Inst.M) – Booker Group
Kevin King (MB.Inst.M) – Booker Group
Roy Mason (MB.Inst.M) – Booker Group
Roderick Frew (MB.Inst.M) – Barr’s Butchers, Ballymena
John Mutch (MB.Inst.M) – Cutting Edge Services, Chorley
Master of the Worshipful Company, Margaret Boanas, was also awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Meat on the day, and Food Hygiene Consultant, Paul Bache MBE, became a Honorary Fellow.
Commenting on the day, Fisher said,
‘It’s wonderful to be back and to be able to recognise the achievements of so many talented individuals. It has been an incredibly tough two years, everyone involved in the meat industry has worked harder than ever before.
The awards are of course about celebrating success, but the Institute of Meat is also about fellowship. This is especially important in the hard times we’ve had recently and we’re all looking forward to a brighter year ahead, including the happy occasion of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.’
Chairman of the Institute of Meat, Bill Jermey added,
‘I’ve been involved with the prize-giving for many years, but it has never felt more important to acknowledge and reward achievement. These apprentices really stepped up to the plate in unprecedented times. I’m especially delighted that HRH The Princess Royal joined us to congratulate them.’
Award winners, Master Butchers and Fellows – The Butchers’ Hall 24th February 2022
For more information about the prize-giving, or how to nominate an apprentice please contact Sheryl Horne at the Institute of Meat, info@instituteofmeat.org
We are pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the prestigious Annual Prize-giving Luncheon and Awards, which will take place on Thursday 24th February 2022 at the Butchers’ Hall, London.
The annual prize-giving event has been running for over 25 years and has rewarded the achievement of over one thousand members of the meat industry since its inception.
As most of the individual awards are given to apprentices the prize-giving is the perfect opportunity for your talented apprentices to be recognised for their efforts. As well as being an inspiring experience and confidence boost for the apprentices themselves the awards can also generate valuable publicity for individual businesses. Professional photography and press releases are available to all winners to support this.
With 12 categories to choose from there’s plenty of opportunity for individuals and companies to win. Individual winners also take home a cheque for £250, a framed certificate and a year’s honorary membership of the Institute of Meat. In addition, the overall winner receives a cheque for £500. The categories next year include: Best Retail Butchery Apprentice, Best Independent Retailer Meat Apprentice, Best Multiple Retailer Butchery Apprentice and Best Meat Processing Apprentice. The final list of categories will be announced in due course.
Award winners from 2020 Prize-giving at the Butchers’ Hall, London
Commenting on the awards, Keith Fisher (F.Inst.M.), Chief Executive of the IoM and himself a fourth generation Master Butcher, said,
‘The prize-giving is a firm fixture in the meat and poultry industry calendar, and the positive feedback from the winners is always a delight to hear. We are committed to inspiring young people to join our industry and rewarding excellence where we see it.’
For nominations criteria and to nominate an apprentice or, for more information, please email Sheryl Horne shorne@instituteofmeat.org
The deadline for nominations is 31st December 2021.
Download the nomination and criteria forms here:
By clicking on the link below, IoM members are able to view the latest WCB Newsletter