A NEW programme highlighting over 750 potential vacancies in butchery has been backed by a Saltcoats butcher.

Sean Cassidy has gained a life-long career in butchery thanks to Saltcoats own Dunbia Highland Meats, and is hoping others follow him into the read meat sector as the industry shows a lack of young trainees.

With the average age of a butcher in Scotland at 60, the industry needs to ensure there is a pipeline of young trainees coming through to future-proof the sector, amidst a serious shortfall of skilled positions.

As females currently represent 14 per cent of current apprentices in the retail butchery sector, the programme launched by

Quality Meat Scotland in partnership with SkillsDevelopment Scotland will work to remove outdated perceptions and showcase the diverse and accessible range of technical and business skills to be learned through the trade.

Gordon Newlands, Brand Development Manager at Quality Meat Scotland, said: “During the various lockdowns over the last 18 months, many of us have rediscovered the joys of visiting our local butcher to get high quality meats.

“This project builds on this renewed interest to showcase the range of skills, knowledge and behaviours that can lead to rewarding careers in the butchery industry, not only in the UK but across the world.”

Dunbia’s Sean Cassidy added: “I applied for a job at Dunbia because it was local and offered a good supporting wage for me and my family. Through this I’ve found a life-long career that offers me an active, hands-on job that is both physically and mentally rewarding.

“I’ve been taught skills I never would’ve thought I’d be able to do, and I feel a lot of that is down to the trust of my supervisors in myself and my work ethic.

“Progressing through the Butchery Academy at Dunbia has allowed me to progress further into the industry with a qualification that opens a lot of doors for my future.

“I have started from the bottom and plan to work to the top, whatever it takes.

“I love that there is always a position you can work towards and something to look forward to. 

“I don’t have any regrets about joining the industry - it’s made me who I am today, all while supporting my family, and I owe everything I know to Dunbia.”