LEON Rawson from Taunton is celebrating this month (March 2021) after passing his Level 2 Butchery Apprenticeship course and being awarded a certificate of Excellence.
The 20-year-old started working towards his qualification last year at the Butchery at Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington.
He explained: “Soon after finishing my college course, which was in animal management, a position opened up for me at Rumwell Farm Shop to become an apprentice. I originally worked as a Saturday lad for two years, doing mostly cleaning, but, also, extra bits during the busier months. I started to make burgers and help with packing, and I picked up a few bits of knowledge about the Butchery business. That’s where my interest in becoming a butcher began.
“I then started to learn the trade from the Butchery manager and began to work full-time at Rumwell Farm Shop, learning new skills, as well as carrying out general work. I learnt about costings, breaking down pork, beef, poultry and lamb, making sausages and burgers, serving customers, as well as seeing the slaughter processes and more.
“The school that assessed me and ran the course I took was MEAT Ipswich. They set my paperwork and gave me my studying to do on the side, which was very insightful and interesting.
“Overall, I enjoyed the course and found my training to be really helpful. I also achieved an Apprentice of the Month award in October 2019.
“I would like to give a massive thank you to everyone at Rumwell Farm Shop and MEAT Ipswich, especially my assessor Stuart Davis.
“I’d love to be able to continue my butchery career and progress further at Rumwell Farm Shop.”
Rumwell Farm Shop is an independent, family-run, award-winning business owned by the Mitchell family. Originally a potato store, David and Anne Mitchell began selling their potatoes and free-range eggs at the gate more than 23 years ago.
Due to customer demand, the product range soon increased, and the business grew. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved, as well as their daughters-in-law, Sophie and Donna.
Rumwell Farm Shop has a traditional butchery counter selling its home and free-range pork and Rumwell Angus beef. There is also a delicatessen, bakery, jam kitchen, food hall, wine cellar and gift room.
Its own, home-grown potatoes are available, when in season, as well as everything from fruit, vegetables and groceries to plants, Somerset-grown cut flowers, gifts and cards.
Terry Tarrant, who is the manager at Rumwell’s Butchery, said: “Leon has been an absolute pleasure to work with. He works incredibly hard and always puts 100% effort into everything he does.”
The Rumwell Café is a large and spacious building. The food prepared in the café kitchen is sourced from the farm shop, the Mitchell family farm, which is just four miles away, and other regional suppliers.
Families are welcome to the café when it is open and there is a menu especially for children. The café also serves afternoon teas, carvery on a Sunday and is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located in Rumwell between Taunton and Wellington, on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.
