Competition launches to find a new female butcher apprentice / ambassador

Parson’s Nose Butchers and Planet Eat Media have joined forces to launch a competition and TV series to inspire and motivate young women to enter the fascinating world of butchery. Find out more about the great prize package on offer.

Butchery has traditionally been a male dominated sector. There are around 6,000 independent butchers across the UK* but women are significantly under represented in the sector. Premium London butcher Parson’s Nose, and global food TV company Planet Eat aim to change perceptions.

You will have the wonderful opportunity to win an apprenticeship at Parson’s Nose and to be the face of a new TV series with the aim of inspiring more young women to choose a career in butchery. No previous experience is needed to enter, just passion, enthusiasm and the conviction the help get more women into butchery. Entry is open to women under the age of 30 and the winner will receive a fabulous package:

• £2,500 prize money
• £20,000 annual salary as an apprentice at one of Parson’s Nose butchery shops in Fulham, Putney or South Kensington
• Planet Eat will make a TV series on you which will be broadcast on over 50 channels globally
• You will become a UK Butchery Ambassador, touring events and schools to motivate and inspire women to enter the world of butchery as well as a whole lot more.
• Media and communications training from experts at Planet Eat Media.

The short video below explains more about the competition:

The competition will be judged by female butcher Jessica Wragg,  Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar and  Tony Hindhaugh, co-owner of Parson’s Nose and director of Planet Eat Media.

Jessica Wragg (pictured above) says: “When I began my career in butchery in Derbyshire at 16, I was the only woman in an all male butchery counter and it was at times intimidating, but I quickly fell in love with butchery –  everything from farming, to slaughter, to the carcass balance and to breaking down the animals too. I’m pleased to support Parson’s Nose competition to find a new butcher ambassador and show the world that butchery can be an interesting and valued career for women with plenty of opportunities both on the block and further afield.”

Tony Hindhaugh of Parson’s Nose said “We know that women make fantastic butchers and yet it’s difficult to recruit women into the role. A career as a chef is now truly aspirational and we would like to see the same change in perceptions towards working as a butcher, especially for women. With this competition and following TV series and media campaign we want to take away the stigma that butchery is just for men.”

To enter the competition just make a 2 minute video on your mobile phone about why you are interested in butchery and what you think you will bring to it.

Shortlisted entrants will then be given the opportunity to join a butcher to follow the animal from the farm to the abattoir to the butchers and then actively get involved with breaking the carcass down with the butcher. You will then need to present a 10 minute segment on a TV show on butchery with Planet Eat TV.

All entries should be sent to tony@parsonsnose.co.uk with the subject Butchery Ambassador Competition.

Full entry details can be found on Parson’s Nose website and you have until 30th September 2021 to enter. The winner will be announced at the end of October 2021. Women In The Food Industry we will be following the winner’s progress and reporting back on their experiences.

* According to research by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board