8 January 2016

2 minute read

Europe

The comprehensive Meat Education Programme was developed after AHDB Beef & Lamb identified a lack of accessible training for professionals working in the meat industry. It aims to help both individuals and businesses to enhance their knowledge and understanding and provide them with certification.

The Meat Education Programme is targeted at the whole of the meat supply chain, including: butchers and processors; chefs, foodservice sales and new product development staff; meat buyers and traders; meat counter staff, and marketing professionals and press.

At the heart of the Meat Education Programme is an innovative web-based platform, which can be accessed via AHDB Beef & Lamb’s trade website www.qsmbeefandlamb.co.uk.

The Meat Education Programme comprises theory and practical modules covering:

• understanding beef and lamb breeds, production and meat quality;
• identifying beef carcases for classification, quality, age and the sex of the animal;
• understanding and recognising different beef and lamb cuts;
• ideal cooking methods used for different muscles;
• understanding cooking with red meat; customer service for serve-over counters;
• telephone skills for meat sales staff;
• and three beef and lamb practical modules for learners to demonstrate their skills by cutting a carcase into primal cuts and producing retail and foodservice cuts.

Online assessment and certification are available – free-of-charge – for the theory modules. The three practical beef and lamb modules will be assessed at the learner’s place of work by highly experienced butchery professionals.

There are 16 theory and practical modules in the Meat Education Programme and each is supported by must-read study materials (free to download) that have been produced to help learners achieve optimum results.

Learners can track their progress online; the website will highlight which assessments have been taken, results and any certificates that have been achieved.

Dick van Leeuwen, business development manager for AHDB Beef & Lamb and project leader of the Meat Education Programme, said: “It gives me great pleasure to launch the Meat Education Programme – an extensive and wide-reaching resource developed to add genuine value to the industry.

"We know that it will prove to be a hugely beneficial tool to individuals and businesses – from butchers to chefs – operating within the meat industry, boosting knowledge and skills.

“Not only will the Meat Education Programme enhance industry knowledge but it will also make it more appealing to newcomers by providing easy access to training and development, with demonstrable accreditation.

“We cannot wait for people to try the programme out and would welcome the opportunity to talk to any business that would like to discuss trialling the programme as an in-house educational resource for staff.”

To register to start using the Meat Education Programme, or for further information, visit www.qsmbeefandlamb.co.uk/mep

TheCattleSite News Desk