Jurgens Joubert, Whiteness

15/11/13: Jurgens Joubert, who works with Shetland Islands butcher J and K Anderson won the Level 3 Modern Apprentice of the Year category at the national awards.

The 28 year-old Shetland Islands food-manufacturing apprentice who introduced a cured meat delicacy from the most southern part of Africa to the most northern part of the UK went on to be named Scotland's Modern Apprentice of the Year in 2013.

Jurgen has completed both Level 2 and Level 3 Modern Apprenticeships through Scottish Meat Training.

The 2013 competition brought together leading Modern Apprentices from every corner of Scottish industry and all sizes of business. Jurgens qualified after successfully completing the specialist meat and poultry skills pathway within the Modern Apprenticeship framework developed in conjunction with Scottish food manufacturers by Skills Council Improve

“We congratulate Jurgens on winning Scotland’s Modern Apprentice of the Year which is a well deserved title,” said Improve Chief Executive Justine Fosh. “His achievement underlines the fact that careers in food and drink manufacturing are alive with opportunity for young people and offer tremendous value to employers.

Jurgens was one of over 900 food and drink employees to complete a Modern Apprenticeship in Scotland in 2013. His apprenticeship, delivered by Scottish Meat Training, included everything from meat preparation to packaging, stock control to customer liaison Jurgens’ line manager, Stuart Eunson, said he had applied his learning in an exceptional manner and was soon developing new products - including biltong, a taste from his South African homeland.

He also brought his IT skills into play - developing a system that now takes minutes instead of hours to keep costings and pricings up to date.

"He is the best apprentice I have had,” said Stuart. “He was quick to learn and got both the practical and theory sides of his Apprenticeship without any trouble. I would say to any companies considering taking on an Apprentice to go for it. The more apprentices there are, the better I think it would be. It was where I started in the business and it is a very good way to get into the industry and progress from there," explained Stuart.

Based in the tiny village of Whiteness, seven miles north of Lerwick, Jurgens spends his days preparing Anderson's ready-to-eat products and speciality items.

Speaking at the Awards ceremony Jurgens said: "I was amazed and delighted to receive both of the Awards. It was a real surprise and a bit of a shock but I am excited and elated."

Jurgens beat 10 other Modern Apprenticeship category winners ranging from technical and professional services apprentices to apprentices working in the Public Sector.

Scotland’s Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said “I regularly visit employers of all sizes and am constantly impressed at how positively young people employed as Modern Apprentices are making their mark.