Butcher
Butchers prepare and sell meat and poultry, and make meat products like sausages, burgers and pies.
What you'll do
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
Working environment
You could work in a factory or at a store.
Your working environment may be cool and physically demanding.
You may need to wear protective clothing and a uniform.
Career path and progression
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
You could also work at the Food Standards Agency, checking quality and standards in abattoirs and meat plants.
What it takes
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
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and 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.
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
You could do a college course, which would teach you some of the skills and knowledge you need in this job.
Relevant subjects include:
- professional butchery
- proficiency in meat and poultry industry skills
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
More Information
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 can take up to 2 years to complete and combines workplace training with off-site study.
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
You can start as a trainee in a butcher's shop and learn on the job. Knowledge of the meat trade, meat processing or experience in food retailing may help you to find a trainee position.
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.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.