An Abermule butcher will be pitting his skills against others from throughout the UK over the next few days as he represents Wales in the Butchery WorldSkills UK National Competition final.
Butcher and slaughter man Daniel John Allen-Rafferty, 31, who lives in Abermule and works for Randall Parker at Dolwen, Llanidloes, is among the six top scoring butchers from the combined heats in Wales, Northern Ireland and England go head to head in the final at The Skills Show, held at the NEC Birmingham today and tomorrow.
Following the competition, the butchers will give a demonstration at the show on Saturday as they wait for result at an evening presentation event.
The Skills Show is the nation’s largest skills and careers event and helps to shape the future of the next generation.
Representing Wales are Daniel, along with Matthew Edwards, 23, of Vaughan's Family Butchers, Penyffordd, near Chester, and Peter Rushforth, 20, of Swans Farm Shop, Mold.
The butchers will be given five tests to complete over two days, which will test their skills to the limit. The tests are: ready to eat products, sausage making, barbecue products, kitchen ready products and a boning and theme butchery display.
Daniel said: “I am looking forward to competing against seasoned competitors from all over the country and seeing the different style of butchery and products. In the meat trade you never stop learning.”
Award-winning, Welshpool-based training provider Cambrian Training Company has organised the butchery competition on behalf of WorldSkills UK and the heats were sponsored by The National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, Institute of Meat and PBEX.
Cambrian Training Company has brought together the main players in the meat industry to form a steering group to organise the new butchery competition.
Arwyn Watkins, Cambrian Training Company’s managing director, said: “We are really proud to bring butchery to the Skills Show for the first time. This is the skills showcase for butchery and we hope to make this inaugural competition one of the main features at this year’s Skills Show so that there is continued support for future years for butchers.”
Partners include Pearsons, Scottish Federation of Meat Traders, The National Federation of Meat & Food Traders, Institute of Meat, Eblex, Dunbia Ltd, Castell Howell Foods, Leeds City College, Improve - The National Skills Academy for Food & Drink, Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales, Randall Parker Foods and Mr Harvey.
