Courses to attract students to butchery

Catering students from across Scotland are to be offered butchery courses in an attempt to combat the shortage of young people entering the butchery profession, writes Nancy Nicolson.

The new three-day pilot programme will be run by the Scotch Butchers Club and Scotch Beef Club in collaboration with the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Association (SFMTA) and City of Glasgow College.

Students on the courses will learn how to break carcases down into primal cuts then bone out, seam cut, trim the meat and produce burgers, sausages and bacon.

Students will also be involved in the sale of products, including joints and steaks, in the City of Glasgow College Craft Market shop.

They will also receive help to find placements in retail butchery environments.

Graeme Sharp, manager of the Scotch Butchers Club, said attracting, training and retaining skilled young staff was a key issue for the butchery industry.

Three students from the pilot course had already shown interest in finding part-time butchery work.

He said: “Promoting and encouraging young people to develop their skills in the trade and bring forward innovative ideas is key to the future of the industry, and it’s great to see the passion and drive every one of the students has.”

Butchery courses are to be offered to catering students from across Scotland to attract people into the profession.