Ryan has been working as an apprentice butcher at Bradwell Butchery for the past few months. He’s been a very welcome addition to the team. Here, he explains in his own words why his apprenticeship has been so rewarding.

Before I became an apprentice butcher I was in the British Army for around fourteen months. I enjoyed the physical training, challenges and teamwork expected during my time with the Army, so when I left the Army and started my search for work, I didn’t really know what kind of job I wanted but hoped I would find a job, or even better a career, that would utilise my new found skills.
I searched websites daily, looking for something to inspire me, a job/career in a place that required physical work, team work and hopefully serving the public too, I knew I had the qualities to fit into this kind of environment well, and be happy doing it.
I came across the position of apprentice butcher with Andrew at Bradwell Butchery. I did some research into Butchery on the internet and found it very interesting to start with, I then had a look on Bradwell Butchery website and realised the position was in a family run shop, with a fantastic reputation, offering the training to give me a skill for life, I knew then that I wanted to be a part of this, it offered everything I was looking for, needless to say, I applied immediately.

I’ve been with Bradwell Butchery for almost 5 months now and enjoy it immensely.
I’ve a long way to go yet and it will always be a constant learning zone, which is good for me, as I enjoy a challenge.
Apart from working along side a great team and doing my best to satisfy customer needs, I enjoy every aspect of of the trade, at the moment my biggest thrill is the pride I feel when I’ve broken an animal down, stand back looking at the cuts and joints, thinking, “I did that!”

I will constantly strive to perfect a new skill, being a Butcher is a competitive game, you want to be the best you can but it also gives you the opportunity to come up with fresh ideas for new products.

I consider myself lucky to have been given the oppotunity to become a member of this industry and proud to work at Bradwell Butchery.