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Butcher
Butchers prepare and sell meat and poultry, and make meat products like sausages, burgers and pies.
Average salary (a year)
£18000
Starter
£26000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
43.0 to 45.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends / bank holidays
on a rota
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You can get into this job through:a college course; an apprenticeship; working towards this role
College
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Relevant subjects include
Level 2 Diploma in Professional Butchery, Level 3 Diploma For Proficiency in Meat and Poultry Industry Skills
Level 2 Diploma in Professional Butchery, Level 3 Diploma For Proficiency in Meat and Poultry Industry Skills
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship
You could get into this job by doing a Butcher Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, then move on to the Butcher Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
Each apprenticeship takes around 1 year and 6 months to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Work
You can start as a trainee in a butcher's shop and learn on the job. Knowledge of the meat trade or experience in food retailing may help you to find a trainee position.
More Information
Career Tips
Any experience you have of working in retail, customer service, food preparation or catering will be useful for this career.
Professional And Industry Bodies
You could join the Institute of Meat or the National Craft Butchers for professional development and training.
Further Information
You can get more advice about becoming a butcher from Tasty Careers.
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
The ability to work well with others
To be thorough and pay attention to detail
Knowledge of food production methods
Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
Customer service skills
The ability to use your initiative
The ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
The ability to work well with your hands
Digital Skills Level
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Other Requirements
Some employers will want you to have a Level 2 Award in Food Safety. This can be taken as a 1-day course and is widely available through colleges and private training providers.
Day to day tasks
On a typical day you could
receive stock deliveries and put them into cold storage, create product displays, cut, bone and trim meat, serve customers, clean knives, cutting equipment and work areas
receive stock deliveries and put them into cold storage, create product displays, cut, bone and trim meat, serve customers, clean knives, cutting equipment and work areas
Working environment
You could work in a factory or at a store.
You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.
Your working environment may be cool and physically demanding.
With experience you could
become a manager in a butcher’s shop, farm shop or supermarket, specialise in particular product types like organic or cured meats, take further training to become a master butcher, move into catering, meat manufacturing or wholesaling, set up your own business
become a manager in a butcher’s shop, farm shop or supermarket, specialise in particular product types like organic or cured meats, take further training to become a master butcher, move into catering, meat manufacturing or wholesaling, set up your own business
You could also work at the Food Standards Agency, checking quality and standards in abattoirs and meat plants.
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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