National Apprenticeship Week: Young Hebden Bridge butcher shaking up the 'boys club'

A recent report found that only a third of the global meat industry workforce are female, while in the UK just one in ten butchers are women.

But a Calderdale apprentice is one of those changing that.

Twenty six-year-old Helena Akroyd has excelled in her role with Craggies Farm Shop, near Hebden Bridge.

Helena has just completed her Leeds City College apprenticeship and has been put forward for an industry award this year.

Her route into the trade was an unconventional one: “Whilst completing my degree I had a part time job working at Craggies in the cafe department, but when Covid hit and the hospitality industry had to close down I got transferred into the farm shop.

“That’s when I found my love for butchery.

"My employers could see how passionate I was and thought it would be a good idea for me to complete an apprenticeship to develop my skills and knowledge, which going to college definitely did.

“As I am working within a historically male dominated industry it is down to butchers like me to prove that we are as good as any male, and that it doesn’t matter what gender you are; if you put your mind to it you can succeed in anything.”

Her mentor at Craggies Farm Shop, Thomas Mellor, has been delighted by Helena’s contribution.

He said: “Helena has had a huge influence on Craggies as a whole and we wouldn’t have had the same growth without her. She has shown incredible development over her time with us.”

Running from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 February, National Apprenticeship Week 2024 aims to shine a light on how apprenticeships are benefitting individuals, businesses and the economy.