Description
We have an opportunity for a creative, enthusiastic person to work as a butcher’s apprentice in our Farm Shop, and farm shop kitchen, cutting meat for sale and producing cooked meats, pies and other related foods.
Activities and responsibilities will include;
- Cutting meat for retail display, and for catering orders.
- Making sausages, burgers and ‘value-added’ cuts, curing bacon.
- Serving customers in the Farm Shop, including cutting meat to order and operating cash till and card machine.
- Dry goods (shelves) presentation and stock control in collaboration with management staff.
- Preparing raw meat for subsequent use in farm shop kitchen e.g. to make pies.
- Cooking/baking/making and packaging deli products from meat and vegetables sourced from the farm and Farm Shop e.g. pies, Scotch eggs, sliced meats, soups, potted meats.
- Routine daily cleaning and deep cleaning.
- Keeping food safety records.
- Training will be given on-the-job, as well as formally through college. Short courses, in addition to those covered by the taught element of the Apprenticeship, can be available.
- Creativity of flavours and cuts will be encouraged, as will research into ‘traditional’ recipes for meat products.
Personal qualities required;
Enthusiastic, keen to learn. Friendly and gets on with people – we can teach customer service. Punctual and reliable and ability to communicate problems and ideas. Initiative and creativity essential. Practical and hygienic.
Training provided;
One day each month at Plumpton College working towards Intermediate Level Butchery Apprenticeship.
On-the-job butchery and cookery; cutting meat, breaking up carcases, storing meat, using food machinery, making and tying sausages, making pies, cooking meats, packaging and labelling under supervision by the employer. Safe use and maintenance of knives, tools and machinery. Customer service. Additional, specific training e.g. food hygiene, first aid will be encouraged.
Hours and salary;
Working week will be divided between cutting room, kitchen and serving customers. Normal working week Tuesday to Saturday. Occasional Sundays to cover for holidays.
£3.30/hour for initial trial period of 2 months, rising to £3.50/hour; £140/week. Overtime will be paid. College day will be paid.
The apprenticeship will last for 18 months - 2 years but a full-time permanent position may be available afterwards.
About us;
We are a 260-acre livestock farm on the North Downs of Surrey, rearing sheep and beef cattle, plus bronze turkeys for Christmas. We sell our farm-reared lamb, beef and turkeys through our on-farm Back to Nature Farm Shop, and we source chicken and pork to sell alongside. We cut our own meat, make sausages from fresh, seasonal ingredients and cure our own bacon. The Farm Shop stocks a variety of ethically-sourced goods and ingredients for cooking, locally-produced cheeses, wines, beers and more. We have built a kitchen adjacent to the butchery cutting room and produce ready-to-eat meat-related foods. We would like to develop the range of cooked pies, meats and other deli-type products from this facility with the right candidate.
