HTAE is proudly celebrating the achievements of one of its apprentice learners, Paul Took, who has been awarded the highly respected Master Butcher accreditation from the Institute of Meat
Hull Training and Adult Education (HTAE) is proudly celebrating the achievements of one of its apprentice learners, Paul Took, who has been awarded the highly respected Master Butcher accreditation from the Institute of Meat — one of the highest honours in the UK meat industry.
Paul, 58, currently works as a Butchery Training Supervisor at Cranswick plc in Preston and is completing his Level 4 Skills and Mentoring apprenticeship with HTAE, with his End Point Assessment due in July 2026.
He is the first individual at Cranswick to receive the Master Butcher award and one of fewer than 100 professionals in Great Britain to hold the accreditation.
Paul undertook the rigorous process of achieving the Institute of Meat Accredited Master Butcher status, beginning in March 2025 and completing it in December 2025.
Paul currently works as a Butchery Training Supervisor at Cranswick plc in Preston and is completing his Level 4 Skills Coach and Mentoring Apprenticeship with HTAE. Photo credit: Cranswick plc
The award requires candidates to complete an extensive portfolio covering 14 modules, including sales and marketing, stock procurement, and operational processes.
As part of the assessment, Paul also visited a range of industry sites, from chicken production to venison farms, to demonstrate a well‑rounded understanding of the sector.
Reflecting on the experience, Paul said: "The portfolio was so large I had to deliver it by hand to my assessor in York!"
Since beginning his apprenticeship programme in May 2025, Paul has demonstrated exceptional commitment to developing his own skills in order to better support the next generation of learners.
After previously completing his teaching and assessor qualifications, Paul chose to progress onto an apprenticeship with HTAE to continue building his expertise.
He credits both the programme and his tutor, Tony Vidal, for supporting his development.
Paul said: "I’ve always believed that the better equipped the tutor is, the more knowledge you can pass on to your learners. Upskilling and personal growth are really important to me.
"Tony has been brilliant. It helps that we both share a passion for Hull KR — it’s a great icebreaker — but as a tutor he’s fantastic. No question or query is ever too small and he’s always there to help."
Paul initially received an invitation to attend the official award ceremony in London. However, due to travel commitments following his beloved Hull KR to Las Vegas, he was unable to attend.
Instead, he received a surprise presentation closer to home.
"I was at an awards event in York supporting one of our apprentices at The York Butchers’ Gild, when I was unexpectedly presented with my own Master Butcher award,” Paul explained. “It was a real surprise and a very proud moment."
The award was presented by Bill Jermey, chairman of the Institute of Meat.
In addition to this honour, Paul has also recently received a nomination at Cranswick GEM Award for Lifetime Achievement, recognising his outstanding 35‑year contribution to the industry.
Aly Jobber, Learning & Development Manager at Cranswick Country Foods, said: “I am immensely proud of Paul’s continued achievements, which are testament to his passion, dedication and enthusiasm to always look to elevate his personal development and those around him.”
Despite these accolades, Paul remains grounded and passionate about learning.
He added: "My wife always jokes, ‘How have you become so clever when you didn’t like school?’ It just shows it’s never too late to keep learning and developing."
Cllr Linda Tock, portfolio holder for Hull Training at Hull City Council, said: “Congratulations to Paul on winning the prestigious Master Butchery accreditation.
“His journey is a shining example of the power of apprenticeships and also that it is never too late to learn new skills and change your career.”
Paul supports and trains staff at Cranswick plc. Photo credit: Cranswick plc.
At HTAE, we are proud to support apprentices like Paul, whose dedication to continuous development not only enhances their own careers but also positively impacts the learners they support every day. His journey highlights the power of apprenticeships at every stage of a career — from starting out to mastering a profession.
Paul receiving his Master Butcher award from Bill Jermey (Chairman, Institute of Meat) at the Gild’s annual Shrove Tuesday Feast, held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in York. Photo credit: Gild Chaplain and photographer, Rev. David Hobman.