Ben Roberts, a 30-year-old butcher from Overton-on-Dee in north Wales, has been names Wales Food and Drink Apprentice of the Year.
“I was shocked to win the award,” said Ben, who is also an Apprentice of the Year finalist in the annual Cambrian Training Company Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards.
“Having sat on a table with all the shortlisted finalists, I know how strong the competition was. I consider it a huge accolade for what I have achieved so far on apprenticeships programmes.
“Hopefully, I can use it as a springboard for future success.”
‘Butcher Ben’ works at Evans Traditional Butchers, Overton on Dee and is a member of the Craft Butchery Team Wales. The team will be competing for the first time at the World Butchers Challenge in the US in September, where Ben will also compete individually as the team’s apprentice.
Ben has also recently completed an Apprenticeship in Food Management and is progressing to an Apprenticeship in Business Management, with the aim of eventually running his own business.
Cambrian Training Company, the sponsor of the Apprentice of the Year awards at the Wales Food and Drink Awards, is delivering Ben’s apprenticeships for the Welsh Government. Managing director of the company, Arwyn Watkins, who delivered the award to Ben said:
“Ben is an outstanding example of career progression using the Welsh Government’s apprenticeship programme.
“He is totally dedicated to his craft which is emphasised by his commitment to the Craft Butcher Team Wales and benchmarking himself against butchers from across the UK and around the world.”
