CREDIT FOR TRAINING

A Forres butcher is the very first to be presented with The Scottish Federation of Meat Traders Craftsman Certificate since it became the first employer in-house training in the UK food industry to be officially credit rated

To celebrate this it was down tools at MacBeths Butchers in Forres on Thursday 9th September 2010 when production halted to witness trainee Willie McNeill being awarded his Craftsman Certificate.

The SFMTA Craftsman Certificate has helped Willie develop within the meat industry and enhance all the craft aspects of his work. His assessor John Farquhar was impressed by the progress Willie made, honing his knife skills by taking on advice from his colleagues and developing through much practice. For the 21 year old from Forres, and his employer, receiving formal recognition of training is a major and important achievement.

The business's investment and commitment to their employees has greatly increased efficiency and service to their customers.

Scottish Meat Training, a subsidiary of the Perth based Scottish Federation of Meat Traders, have worked in partnership with the Moray butchers to ensure that employees are given good quality training that enhances craft skills.

"Meat skills are amongst the few remaining craft skills and it is important for the success of butchers' businesses that they are kept alive and demonstrated by people employed in the industry" stated Douglas Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Meat Training.

"It is very important in to-day's environment, when so much emphasis is on food safety and craft skills training, to acknowledge that this Forres business, MacBeths has made a very serious commitment to training and today together with their employees they can reap the rewards of their success