This occupation is found in small, medium, and large employers in the private sector such as meat processors and manufacturers, instore retailers, and independent retailers.
Meat processors and manufacturers range from multi-national processing businesses supplying meat or meat products to large food outlets, supermarkets, and hotel chains; to smaller meat processors supplying independent or local food businesses. Retailers could include supermarkets, independent retailers, and farm shops.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to prepare and provide a variety of cuts of meat, and poultry for consumers to buy. This is a core and options apprenticeship, with two options and the option taken is dependent on the specialism of the employer.
Option 1 - the broad purpose of a retail or instore butcher depends on place of employment. In most retail establishments, they are responsible for receiving and storing meat products in accordance with food safety and health and safety regulations, to maintain meat quality. They may package and price meat items after cutting and preparing for meat display.
Option 2 - a butcher in a processing or manufacturing plant has a more diverse set of tasks. Specialist equipment may be used to break down, debone, cut, and trim meat species into primals for retail or catering cuts. They will then be processed and/or sold to both domestic and international customers.
The emerging green economy is creating increasing opportunities for meat services and manufactured/processed products. This may require activities to be focussed on raising awareness of the benefits of carrying out transactions or purchases or products within an environmentally sustainable model.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of internal stakeholders such as members of their own team, or other departments such as sales, operations, IT, HR, customer services, senior management, and finance.
They may also interact with external stakeholders such as clients or customers, suppliers’ enforcement agencies and regulators, and auditors.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the cutting, preparing, packaging and presentation of meat products to the standards required of the business and specialist needs of commercial customers, complying with all relevant legislation.
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