Teenage Aberdeenshire butcher carves out win in national awards

A Braemar teenager who left school without any qualifications has been recognised as one of Scotland's most promising young butchers.

Craig Davidson, 17, works at N G Menzies butchers in Ballater, and is this week celebrating after beating off stiff competition from apprentice butchers across the country.

He has lifted the fiercely contested Scottish Craft Butchers SVQ Level 2 Modern Apprentice of The Year Award 2024, but he was surprised to learn of his award.

READ MORE: £19k cocaine haul seized in Aberdeen city centre car park as man charged

READ MORE: Suzy Lamplugh's family hope murder suspect left a hidden message in book

Craig heard about his success as he travelled home from a break in Lewis at the weekend and said he felt "overwhelmed" by the award.

"I’m absolutely thrilled," he said. "To be named the best Level 2 apprentice in Scotland is just amazing, especially when you consider the young talent in the industry.

"I’m so proud to be an award-winning butcher after leaving school with no exam qualifications behind me. It’s a real thrill and something I could never have imagined a few years ago."

Craig was only 15 when he left school to pursue a career in butchery – an industry he had grown to love after working with Neil Menzies as a Saturday boy.

When he turned 16, he was formally inducted into the apprentice training programme and impressed assessors by already being proficient in 70 per cent of the course work.

Nominated for the award by assessor Robbie Hughan, Craig is seen as both aspirational and inspirational with butchery skills beyond his training.

"Throughout his ongoing assessments, Craig was able to demonstrate the knowledge and ability of a butcher with many years’ experience, as well as high levels of customer service skills," explained Robbie.

"He has shown real enthusiasm to learn and to complete his Modern Apprenticeship, backed by impressive knife skills and knowledge."

Robbie added that Craig has also proved himself an invaluable member of the Ballater shop team by stepping up and working extra hours to cover staff changes during the busy tourist season.

The award is sponsored by the Scotch Butchers Club, Incorporation of Fleshers Glasgow, Fleshers Trade Dundee and Lanarkshire Butchers Association.

Craft Skills Scotland Training Manager Claire Simpson explained how the annual awards attract nominations from independent craft butchers throughout Scotland.

"Craft Skills Scotland have over 200 Candidates and nearly 80 employers involved in the Modern Apprenticeship training programme at any one time," she said.

"To be nominated for an award is an amazing achievement – to win one is outstanding.

"The panel had a difficult decision to select the finalists for each award and were very impressed with the high standard of all the nominations this year.

"Craig is one of this year’s outstanding achievers and an apprentice worthy of a Scottish Craft Butcher Award."

Craig now goes on to the next level of his apprenticeship journey, developing and perfecting his skills at N G Menzies – all with his goal set firmly on his ambition to own his own butchers shop one day.