Butchery Apprentice

We are looking for an apprentice to join Goodwood, a reputable estate known for our events and our food. Our apprentice will support Goodwood Home Farm’s mission to produce exceptional, sustainable and organic meat by learning traditional skills alongside our Master Butcher. You will help prepare high quality cuts for the estate’s restaurants and farm shop and be a part of the UK’s largest lowland organic farm.

Training will be delivered bi-weekly in person at Plumpton College. There is a coach network with operates within the local area to enable you to get to and from the college.

Hours: 40 hours per week. Days of the week will vary, but a start time of 6.00am, with a finish at 3.00pm.

Salary: £15,704 to £25,396.80 (depending on age & experience)

Application deadline: 16th March 2026 (interviews may occur before this deadline)

About Goodwood

Goodwood is a quintessentially English estate, set in 12,000 acres of rolling West Sussex countryside. Rooted in our heritage, we deliver extraordinary and engaging experiences in modern and authentic ways. But what really sets us apart is our people. It is their passion, enthusiasm and belief in the many things we do that makes Goodwood the unique place it is.

What will the apprentice be doing?

The apprentice's duties will vary day to day but will include:

• Assisting with carcass breakdown, meat preparation, and ageing across beef, lamb, and pork- each organically reared on the estate.
• Learning to prepare a variety of cuts under expert guidance.
• Supporting trimming, deboning, tying, grinding, and portioning of meat (General butchery duties referenced from industry standards).
• Weighing, packaging, and labelling products to high quality standards.
• Maintaining excellent hygiene and food safety practices, adhering to HACCP and regulatory requirements.
• Working collaboratively within a passionate, skilled team committed to delivering outstanding organic produce.

Training Provider: Plumpton College

The final certification will be for L2 Butchery.

The apprentice will learn:

• Knife skills - including cutting, boning, trimming and mincing of meat
• Health and safety practices, food safety and hygiene and key legislation
• Using butchery tools and machinery – including mincing, sausage making, bacon curing, vacuum packing
• Cutting whole dear carcasses, in season, from nose to tail.
• Business profitability, maximising productivity, efficiency and customer care
• Team work and customer care skills
• Specialist retail shop or processing plant butchery skills

Qualifications Awarded

• Butchery Level 2 Apprenticeship Certificate
• Level 2 award in food safety
• Level 2 award in health and safety
• Level 2 award in knife skills
• Level 1 in maths and English (if applicable)

Desired Skills

• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non-judgemental
• Patience
• Physical fitness
• Communication skills
• Presentation skills

Qualifications: Math and English GCSE Grade 4 desirable or discussion for completion of Functional Skills Maths and English if not achieved.

Benefits

• Tickets to events
• Health care cash plan
• Employee well-being programme
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking,
• Yearly group share bonus opportunity
• Discounts across the estate and Chichester

Things to consider

• You MUST not be in any other form of full-time or part time formal education (such as school, college or university) to be eligible to apply for an apprenticeship. Shorter course may not apply.
• You MUST have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years prior to the start of learning and be eligible to work in the UK.
• You MUST be located in an area local to the apprenticeship or be prepared to relocate in time to start employment and study.
• This apprenticeship is approximately 18 months.