Meat Industry Stars Celebrated at Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butcher’s Annual Prizegiving
Meat Industry Stars Celebrated at Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butcher’s Annual Prizegiving
In one of the meat industry’s favourite traditions, today the Institute of Meat (IoM) and Worshipful Company of Butchers (WCB) celebrated the achievements of apprentices, employers and training providers at their Annual Prizegiving, held at Butchers Hall, London.
After welcoming a record number of attendees, IoM Chief Executive Dave Smith (F.Inst.M) revealed the winners in each category, who were then presented with their awards by the Master of the Worshipful Company, Gwyn Howells.
The winners and awards were:
| Winner | Award | Employer | Proposer | Sponsor |
| Liam Burton | Best New Apprentice | ABP Shrewsbury | Laura Faulkner MI-ET | Windsor Food Machinery Ltd |
| Nikita Somma | Best Retailer Butchery Apprentice | Sykes House Farm | Kyle Linley, Leeds City College | National Craft Butchers |
| Joe Wadey | Best Independent Retailer Meat Apprentice | South Downs Butchery | Henry Martin, Plumpton College | Dalziel Ltd |
| Faye Sleight | Best In-store Multiple Retailer Butchery Apprentice | Morrisons, Parkgate, Sheffield | Jo Di Cristofaro, Remit Training | Victorinox |
| Rolaine Escano | Best Meat Processing Apprentice | HG Walter Ltd | John Marshall, MEAT Ipswich | British Meat Processors Association |
| Jochyl Mier | Best Abattoir Worker/Apprentice | ABP Newry | Michael Prunty, Southern Regional College | ABP Food Group |
| Ashton Davis | Best Apprentice Showing Management Potential in a Manufacturing Environment | Cranswick Preston | Paul Nicholson, Bishop Burton | Worshipful Company of Poulters |
| Bradley Davey | Best Meat Apprentice Showing Real Management Potential | Morrisons Tamworth | Jo Di Cristofaro, Remit Training | Oakfield Foods Ltd |
| Jimmy Mariano | Lord Graham Endeavour Award | Trussells Butchers | David Munden, MEAT Ipswich | BDCI |
| Booker Group | Best Company Training Scheme | Booker Group | Tara McCaffrey, Crosby Butchery Training | WCB/Jenkins Family |
| Bishop Burton College | Best Meat Training Provider of the Year | Bishop Burton | Paul Took, Cranswick | WCB/Edkins |
The apprentice category winners each received a cheque for £250, a framed certificate and a year’s free membership of the Institute of Meat.
The most coveted award, ‘Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year’ sponsored by Meat Management magazine, was won by Nikita Somma, from Sykes House Farm. The judges were particularly impressed by Nikita’s technical ability, creativity and composure under pressure when competing in the ‘Battle of the Apprentice Butchers’ at the Great Yorkshire Show, which resulted in her winning the Golden Cleaver as well as two other awards.
Nikita received a winner’s trophy and certificate, a year’s free membership of the IoM and an additional cash prize of £500.
Commenting on his first year presiding over the prizegiving, Dave Smith said,
‘I’ve attended the IoM/WCB Annual Prizegiving many times as a guest, but standing here today to personally applaud the efforts and achievements of today’s award recipients has been doubly rewarding and enjoyable.’
‘I’m especially pleased to see women so well represented amongst our apprentice winners. The meat industry is for all. It’s good to see this message gaining traction where it matters – at grass roots level.’
Also celebrated on the day was the awarding of 13 new Institute of Meat accredited Master Butchers. The awarding criteria for IoM accredited Master Butchers is rigorous and applications are invited only from very experienced and skilful butchers. Past CEO, Chief Moderator and Fellow of the Institute of Meat, Keith Fisher (F.Inst.M), awarded this honour to the following butchers:
| Greg Brighouse (MB.Inst.M) | Self employed |
| Paul Halliwell (MB.Inst.M) | Booker |
| Kevin Hudson (MB.Inst.M) | Booker |
| Stuart Ormiston (MB.Inst.M) | Booker |
| Gavin Pittman (MB.Inst.M) | Yorkshire Craft Butchery |
| Darren Symes (MB.Inst.M) | Booker |
| Martin Taylor (MB.Inst.M) | Booker |
| Christopher Yates (MB.Inst.M) | Booker |
| Kevin Jaggard (MB.Inst.M) | MEAT Ipswich |
| Miles Nicholas (MB.Inst.M) | Morgans Butchers |
| Andrew Woods (MB.Inst.M) | MJ Birtwistles |
| Scott Bradley (MB.Inst.M) | Woodhead Bros |
| Peter Rushforth (MB.Inst.M) | Innovative Food Ingredients |
Bill Jermey, Chairman of the Institute of Meat and instigator of the Master Butcher programme, added,
‘In Butchers Hall today we have brought together talented people from across the whole career spectrum – new apprentices to seasoned industry professionals. Creating this opportunity to make lasting connections is an important aspect of the Annual Prizegiving and one that I hope our winners take full advantage of.’
Rounding off a special day of celebrations was the inauguration of three new Fellows of The Institute of Meat: Gywn Howells, Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, Paul Miles from the Booker Group, and Paul Cadman from Crosby Management Training.
For more information about the IoM/WCB Annual Prizegiving, or the IoM Master Butcher programme, in the first instance please contact Sheryl Horne at the Institute of Meat, info@instituteofmeat.org
