A Cumbrian butchers has won an award for its training scheme at an industry awards ceremony.

Cranston’s, which has butchers and restaurants across the county, picked up the award at the Institute of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butchers (IoM/WCB) Annual Prizegiving on February 23.

Over 100 guests gathered in Butchers’ Hall in London to applaud the achievements of butchery apprentices, their employers, and training providers.

The IoM said that though the meat industry is age-old, this year’s prizegiving proved that attitudes certainly aren’t as more than half of the apprentice winners this year were women.

Presiding over this prestigious event was the IoM’s chief executive, Keith Fisher, with current master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers, Andrew Parker, presenting the awards.

The category winners each received a cheque for £250, a framed certificate, and a year’s free membership of the IoM.

Cranston’s picked up the ‘Best Company Training Scheme’ award which was presented to Peter Potts, their retail manager.

The overall winner, ‘Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year’, Mia Tamburrini, received a winner’s trophy and certificate, a year’s free membership of the IoM plus an additional cash prize of £500.

On the event and winners, Keith Fisher said: “It gives me great pleasure to receive so many nominations, and read about so many talented young people, especially at a time when our industry is being tested yet again.

“Like the meat industry, our winners will need to be resilient in the years ahead.

“Today’s award, when combined with hard work and determination, could be the springboard to many future successes.”

Five highly skilled butchers were also recognised on the day by being awarded IoM accredited master butcher status.

IoM chair, Bill Jermey, who developed the master butcher accreditation, said: “Butchers applying for master butcher accreditation are serious about their craft.

“They submit themselves to a rigorous four-stage assessment process, during which they must impress not only the IoM but also independent moderators.”

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