Butcher

**Shop Butcher**

**Hours of Work **44.5 hours per week across 5 days, with additional hours as required and at
Christmas.

**Line Manager **Head Butcher at the Shop and Production Manager at the unit

**Salary and benefits **£25k per annum, pension scheme, 24/7 access to an Employee Assistance programme and helpline for you and your family, Staff discount.

**Background Information**

Block & Bottle is a multi-award winning butchers and bottle shop located in Heaton, Newcastle that was recently featured as the finale of The Hairy Bikers Go North series.

We are a whole carcass butchery and make all our own produce including, bacon, sausages, burgers and charcuterie. We have curated a shop brimming with exciting, locally sourced, free range, grass fed meats; tantalising hand-crafted charcuterie and mouth-watering craft beers and natural wines which are available to drink in or take out.

We have a shop in Heaton and a 4500ft2 facility in the west end of Newcastle where we hang and age all of our carcasses and make our sausages, bacon and charcuterie.

We are proud of our customer service and have a dedicated following of customers who come from the local area and also much further afield.

**Job Purpose and duties**

We are looking for a talented, experienced butcher to join our team, to work at our shop preparing joints & cuts, breaking down carcasses, making products, preparing and packing orders and serving customers

Duties and tasks will include:

- Breaking down carcasses into primals, portioning and cutting (training will be provided if no prior whole carcass butchery experience)
- making burgers, Sausages and bacon
- Effectively communicating with other staff and management
- Working efficiently through a daily list either on your own or as a team
- Following verbal instructions and printed recipes accurately
- Correctly preparing and store meat to ensure the best quality produce
- Setting up window and counter displays - cutting and displaying meat to a high standard
- Striving to minimise waste and utilise everything
- Maintaining our high standard of customer service, that goes above and beyond - providing cooking advice, answering customer queries and ensuring we have a wide variety of products available for them
- Making sure all paperwork such as temperature and cooking logs is completed, and products are correctly labelled including for allergens. Promote a culture of prioritising food hygiene, health and safety and allergen advice/management
- Maintaining a clean and tidy work environment
- Happily take on new duties as the needs of the business grow

**Person Specification and desirable skills**
- Recent bone in butchery experience is required - whole carcass butchery experience is a bonus (no prior charcuterie experience is necessary).
- Excellent communication skills
- Be able to work safely and tidily in a busy environment, and effectively work in stressful situations.
- Exceptional customer service skills and butchery knowledge to be able to effectively advise customers on the best cuts of meat, cooking guidelines and allergen information
- Be passionate about good quality food and drink
- Be physically fit enough to lift carcasses and be on your feet all day
- Be able to use Slack (the communication app) and our till system - training will be provided
- Be a team player and have a solution purposed mind set

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Salary**: £25,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Wellness programme

Schedule:

- Day shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Newcastle upon Tyne: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Experience**:

- Butchery: 2 years (required)

Work authorisation:

- United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: One location