A Lanarkshire butcher with nearly 30 years in the business has been recognised with a national award for his mentoring of the next generation of meat industry professionals.
Allan McLeod, 45, of Allan Alexander McLeod Craft Butchers in Kirkmuirhill, has been named Mentor Of The Year in the annual Scottish Craft Butchers training awards.
Now owner of his own butcher’s shop, Allan has worked his way up in the industry from the age of 14 – initially selling meat with his brother around their neighbourhood, before progressing through employment at processing plants and retail businesses.
Over the years, Allan took on the role as mentor to many aspiring young talents and ensured their training equipped them for successful careers in the meat industry. And it was the gratitude of one such apprentice that led to Allan lifting one of the industry’s most prestigious awards at a special lunch last weekend.
Apprentice butcher Kyle McMillan described Allan as “a great role model”, “a dedicated boss” and “the best teacher”.
A thrilled Allan said he was extremely proud to lift the award but stressed he sought neither recognition nor reward for his mentoring.
“We have to put the time and effort in to training up the next generation or butchery will become a lost trade,” he said. “We do everything from scratch at McLeod so they get a good grounding in every aspect of the work.
“I’m really proud of every apprentice I have trained – they’re a reflection of myself really – and I’m very touched that Kyle entered me for this amazing award.
“It is nice to know that I’m making a difference for others, and this is something I’ll look back on with pride in the years to come.”
In his nomination of Allan, Kyle told how his boss not only helped develop and perfect their butchery and customer service skills, but also worked with them on personal development.
”He helped me achieve a four stone weight loss using sponsored walks for Teens With Cancer as incentive, using his personal time to help me train,” said Kyle.
“Allan has shown me what it is to have passion and love for butchery. Not many people can walk into their job and say that they love what they do, but I can, thanks to Allan.
“Allan has taught me and so many others so much and he has promised to never stop teaching me more – his motto is that there is always more to learn and improve on.
“He is a dedicated boss who would rather give people jobs they will enjoy and will excel in than just hand out what needs to be done. Allan is one of the good ones and I believe he is the perfect fit to receive this award.”
Allan has mentored many young butchers in his lifetime and says he never stops caring for them and ensuring they have a job.
“It’s nice to know you’re sending them off into the world with the skills they need to succeed,” he said. “We’re like a family here and you always take care of your family.”
Craft Skills Scotland training manager Claire Simpson explained that the annual awards, sponsored by the Scotch Butchers Club, Incorporation of Fleshers Glasgow, Fleshers Trade Dundee and Lanarkshire Butchers Association, attract nominations from independent craft butchers throughout Scotland.
“Craft Skills Scotland have over 200 candidates and nearly 80 employers involved in the Modern Apprenticeship training programme at any one time,” she said. “To be nominated for an award is an amazing achievement – to win one is outstanding.
“The panel had a difficult decision to select the finalists for each award and were very impressed with the high standard of all the nominations this year.
“Allan is one of this year’s outstanding achievers and a mentor worthy of his Scottish Craft Butcher Award.”
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