With just one week to go to enter the 2020 Butchery WorldSkills UK Competition, last year’s gold medallist, Stefan Rice, has been explaining why butchers should enter and compete.
Stefan Rice, 36, triumphed in last year’s competition final at WorldSkills UK LIVE, held at the NEC Birmingham, beating fellow butchers from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Rice, who works for A. Hindle and Son, Stafford, said: “Entering this competition is the best way to sharpen your skillset because it encourages you to try new things. didn’t think I had a chance of winning, so it shows it’s definitely worthwhile entering.
“It’s also great for your CV and to build up your knowledge. Winning has helped to highlight my skills to customers and to generally showcase what I can do.”
"We appreciate that butchers across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are very busy supporting the heroic work to keep us all fed throughout this crisis. Hopefully, they can spare the time to complete their free competition registrations before the 5th May deadline.”
The entry deadline for this year’s contest has been extended to the 5th May as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Regional heats are not expected to be held until September because of the pandemic restrictions.
Katy Godsell, marketing manager for pan Wales training provider Cambrian Training who co-ordinate the butchery competition for WorldSkills UK, said: “Our number one priority is the safety of all. We appreciate that butchers across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are very busy supporting the heroic work to keep us all fed throughout this crisis. Hopefully, they can spare the time to complete their free competition registrations before the 5th May deadline.”
WorldSkills UK Competitions are designed by industry experts and are free to enter. The competition focuses on the essential skills required for a successful career as a multi-skilled butcher within the food manufacturing industry. Butchers are tested for overall skill, innovation, creativity, presentation, work ethic, method and approach to tasks, carcass and primal utilisation, waste and safe and hygienic working practice.
Butchers can register online at www.worldskillsuk.org and more information about the competition can be found here.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
