Local butcher Cranstons wins prestigious training award

Cranstons Quality Butchers based in Penrith have won a prestigious meat industry award in recognition of the training and development opportunities they provide for their staff.

The award was for ‘Adjudged Best Company for training and qualifications 2011’, and was presented by Ray Woodhouse, the ‘Master of the Worshipful Company of Butchers’, at the Meat Training Council Annual Prize Giving on Tuesday 28th February, held at Butchers Hall in London.  Cranstons were nominated by M.E.A.T. (Ipswich) Ltd, their butchery training provider, for being the best company for training and qualifications.  Cranstons are currently training eight apprentice butchers and have 160 staff across the business.

Other training provided to staff includes NVQs in Food Manufacture, Engineering, Customer service, Hospitality, and Management. They also do in-house customer care training and management training with external consultants, and are also training a further nine apprentices in Customer Care or Food and Drink Manufacture.
HR and Payroll Manager Linda Bellas said, ‘I’m very proud of our ongoing culture of staff development here at Cranstons.

Most of our managers started here as apprentices and worked their way up, and it feels good as an organisation to be able to provide real opportunities for progression to people in Cumbria. ‘We are thrilled to receive this award in recognition of our policy of continual staff development. I have always said that this organisation’s strength is its people, and that it is of paramount importance to provide the necessary training for them to build their skills and progress their careers. Ultimately this is beneficial for both employer and employee