Butchery Apprenticeship at Tottingworth Farm

About Us

Tottingworth Farms Ltd is a family run Farm, Farm shop, Café and Slaughterhouse. The Farm produces Beef and Lamb that it sells in the shop and café. The Farm also takes great pleasure in what it does and shows the pedigree stock up and down the country. The Farm Shop and Café opened in 2011 and has gone from strength to strength, being well known locally for its delicious meat it produces.

The Slaughterhouse is a key linchpin to the Sussex rural community, serving the local farmers, butchers and farm shop. Small abattoirs are on the decline due to high running costs, but here at Tottingworth we are able to keep going due to the relationships we have built up and high animal welfare standards we are well known for.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone to join a team where the term ‘Farm to Fork’ really is the case. The right candidate has the opportunity to see and be part of the whole process from start to finish, within the slaughterhouse (if they desire) and butchery. We have extremely skilled slaughtermen and butchers who are willing to pass on their invaluable knowledge and skills.

Vacancy description

Learn to:

• Preparing and packing meat – burgers, koftas, sausages, ham etc.
• Learn to bone, roll, dice, and slice meat
• Communicate well with customers to advise and produce orders to their specification.
• Understanding the importance cleanliness and maintaining a clean and tidy working area
• Providing support to the other butchers, being a team player
• Keeping the butchery counter well stocked and pre-empting different items sell at different rates throughout the year

Desired skills

• Manual dexterity
• Ability to communicate well with customers and fellow staff members 
• Able to cope with the physical demands of the role as involves some lifting

Personal qualities

• Reliable
• Willingness to learn
• Good personal hygiene
• An interest in food

Future prospects

For the right candidate, Tottingworth are looking to train an apprentice to be an integral part of the team.  

Things to consider

Apprentices are paid for their normal working hours and training that's part of their apprenticeship (usually one day per week). 
The Apprenticeship National Minimum Wage guide is updated every April (ANMW): https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates

• The role is based at Tottingworth Farm, just outside Heathfield.
• The candidate must ensure they travel to work in a safe and timely manner
• The successful candidate will be expected to travel to Plumpton College Butchery Department one day a week during term time.
• Free tea & coffee
• Working in a rural location
• Working with a friendly young team
• Staff discount in the farm shop

Training to be provided

Apprentices must achieve Level 2 Food Safety Award, Level 2 Health & Safety in the Food Supply Chain Award, and Level 2 Knife Skills Award prior to taking the end-point assessment.

This vacancy is an opportunity for an apprentice to learn butchery and the associated skills needed to be a modern butcher.

The apprenticeship is completed in partnership with Plumpton College’s highly regarded Butchery Apprenticeship Department, where the successful applicants will embark on a Level 2 Butchery Apprenticeship, lasting between 12 and 18 months. The course includes all aspects of modern butchery together with additional qualifications in food hygiene and health and safety. The course concludes with an assessment in skills and knowledge before the apprenticeship qualification is awarded.

Apprentices spend at least 20% of their time being trained, mentored and taught in both the workplace and at college. Where necessary, the training includes helping students achieve competency in maths and English.