Butchery centre needs support

Support is being sought for plans to establish a dedicated centre of excellence for the teaching of formal butchery skills in Welshpool. The Cambrian Training Company, which specialises in work-based training for the tourism industry, is appealing for backing from organisations across Wales for the project.

Arwyn Watkins, operations director at Cambrian Training and a member of the Wales Culinary Team, said that since his own days as a trainee chef he had seen the demise of the larder butchery element of a chef's training, with caterers buying in ready-butchered meat.

"Meat is often prepared at another site somewhere else in the country or world," commented Watkins. "Many young chefs have never seen a hindquarter of beef, a carcass of lamb or a side of pork, let alone actually removed the joints themselves.

"These young chefs are key to the future of using local produce in their kitchens, yet there is no opportunity in Powys for any individual to undertake any formal learning of butchery skills."

Since July, all butchers' shops have had to be licensed to sell raw and cooked meat, and staff must receive training in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulations. Apart from training butchers and chefs, the proposed centre of excellence would also be made available to local groups and organisations.

For more details contact the Cambrian Training Company. Tel: 01938 555893.