Apprentice Butcher

Summary

Join Dunbia as a Butchery Apprentice, working within a fast-paced factory environment. You will support processing operations including cutting, packing, machine use and hygiene tasks, while learning key butchery skills and maintaining high standards of food safety, quality and health & safety.

Wage

£16,224 to £25,775.88, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Salary will be discussed at interview, with regular reviews and potential increases based on performance, upskilling and time served. Additional bonus schemes and incentives are available.

Training course

Butcher (level 2)

Hours

Working hours and shift patterns will be discussed and agreed at the interview.

39 hours a week

Start date

Monday 28 September 2026

Duration

1 year 6 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Work as part of a team within a fast-paced butchery factory environment
• Assist with cutting, trimming, boning and preparing meat to specification
• Support packing, weighing, labelling and dispatch of products
• Operate and maintain machinery safely within the production process
• Ensure correct storage, stock rotation and temperature control of products
• Maintain product flow to meet production targets
• Carry out hygiene cleaning of equipment and work areas using food-safe chemicals
• Follow all food safety, quality and health & safety regulations
• Use and maintain PPE correctly at all times
• Assist with intake and dispatch of goods
• Work across departments to support business needs during busy periods
• Continuously develop skills through on-the-job training

Where you'll work

Carnaby Industrial Estate, Lancaster Road
Carnaby
Bridlington
YO15 3QY

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

BISHOP BURTON COLLEGE

Training course

Butcher (level 2)

What you'll learn

Course contents

• Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
• Maintains and sharpens knives and cutting equipment.
• Manual handling of carcases or primals through the manufacturing or butchery process.
• Adhere to the organisational policies and standard operating procedures.
• Maintain the meat product to the given customer specification and food safety compliance and traceability procedures in the meat supply chain.
• Support colleagues in delivering the daily workplace requirements.
• Use technology and applications to support production, sales, and customer service.
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities which focus on improving sustainability within the business.
• Communicate with customers and stakeholders to meet their requirements.
• Process and dispose of waste material.
• Uses knives and cutting equipment to undertake a range of primary and secondary butchery skills.
• Serve customers in line with brand standards.
• Advise customers on the use by dates, storage, preparation, and cooking of meat products.
• Prepare, produce, and display meat products such as joints, portions, sausages, burgers, value-added products and offer alternative products when required.
• Plan and prepare for seasonal supply and demand of meat products in the merchandising and promotion of seasonal foods.
• Provide provenance and heritage product information.
• Set up and close meat counter displays.
• Balance the customers’ needs with additional linked products and services such as marinades, and encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
• Produce meat to the specific volume, size, and weight to meet the needs of stakeholders.
• Maximise the saleable yield for the business relating to carcases or primals.
• Contribute to efficiencies to support the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the business through working to agreed specifications for their role.
• Adhere to customer specifications and contracts.
• Contribute to foreign body control and metal detection.
• Meet key performance indicators within meat processing.
• Comply with regulations and legislation relevant to their role and business.
• Maintains and sharpens knives and cutting equipment.
• Manual handling of carcases or primals through the manufacturing or butchery process.
• Adhere to the organisational policies and standard operating procedures.
• Maintain the meat product to the given customer specification and food safety compliance and traceability procedures in the meat supply chain.
• Support colleagues in delivering the daily workplace requirements.
• Use technology and applications to support production, sales, and customer service.
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities which focus on improving sustainability within the business.
• Communicate with customers and stakeholders to meet their requirements.
• Process and dispose of waste material.
• Uses knives and cutting equipment to undertake a range of primary and secondary butchery skills.

Training schedule

• The apprentice will work towards a Level 2 Butcher Apprenticeship Standard
• Training will be delivered through a blend of on-the-job learning and off-the-job training at Bishop Burton College, typically one day per week, developing knowledge, skills and behaviours required for the role

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English (grade 3/D)
• Maths (grade 3/D)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Problem solving skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience
• Physical fitness

Other requirements

• This is a physically demanding role in a fast-paced production environment
• Work may involve standing for long periods, working in chilled conditions, repetitive tasks and meeting strict quality, hygiene and safety standards
• Shift work may apply
• A strong work ethic, resilience and commitment to learning are essential