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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Butchers in Somerset CLCI: OFM CRCI: SB Most butchers work in shops. These include supermarkets (which sell most of the meat we buy), traditional butchers' shops and other places such as farm shops. This is called retail butchery and involves working with the public. Others work in wholesale butchery preparing and selling meat to shops, catering businesses, restaurants, hotels and other places. This work deals with businesses rather than the public. In shops it’s a mixture of practical and customer service work. You cut, bone, trim and pack meat and advise customers about cuts and how to cook meat. You might also make sausages, pies and burgers. To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your careers or Connexions library. THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT BUTCHERY WORK IN SOMERSET Retail butchery in Somerset is split between traditional butchers’ shops and supermarkets. Most people reckon supermarkets are taking more and more customers every year which means there will probably be less small butchers’ shops in future. Locally many shops are family businesses with just one branch (although a few may have three or four branches spread across neighbouring towns). There are several butchers’ shops in most towns with one or two in many larger villages. A typical Somerset butchers’ shop employs between three and six people. Supermarkets employ similar numbers in their butchery departments. You’ll also find butchers working locally in speciality shops (such as sausage makers) and farm shops. Promotion prospects are usually better with supermarkets and chains. It’s also a job where you can eventually work for yourself. Somerset butchery businesses are split over whether they train their staff. Some teach people as they go along; others send trainees on college courses or use distance learning packs and videos. HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Start as a trainee – or apprentice – in a butchery business. This may involve doing company courses or going to college as part of your job USEFUL QUALIFICATIONS   School qualifications are not normally required but some GCSEs might be useful for (especially for supervisor jobs)   Training is done as you go along. Sometimes this means going to college as part of your job   NVQs in meat and poultry butchery operations/processing   Meat Training Council courses DO YOU KNOW? Somerset businesses have been successful in the annual Butcher’s Shop of the Year awards. WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. Skilled butchers usually earn between £250 and £300 per week. A supermarket butchery manager might earn around £20,000 per year. FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   The meat industry is big business employing 170,000 people throughout the country   The work might not appeal to everybody – you’ll either love or hate it!   Working in a supermarket can often, but not always, mean less customer contact than in a traditional butchers’ shop   Wholesale butchers often work in covered markets or depots. It’s can be cold and you start early in the morning   Unless people’s eating habits change enormously butchers will always be needed   It’s important to have pride in your work and pay attention to detail. You get to see the final product   You need to be aware about hygiene and health & safety (especially when handling knives and equipment)   Other meat industry jobs exist in slaughterhouses, food factories and meat inspection WHO DOES THE WORK? Krystyna (18) from Glastonbury is doing an apprenticeship with a local butchers’ shop. This involves her doing NVQs and other courses. She is already keen on opening her own shop one day. Janek (23) lives near Wincanton and has been a supermarket butcher for five years. He sees his career in supermarket management and recently became deputy manager of the butchery department. More info: A-Z of careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use