Duchy College Butchery Academy and the butcher’s that nearly shut

A butcher’s shop close to shutting for good. A new owner who had never worked in the trade. And a 22-year-old behind the counter who wants to run the place one day.

That is where Bailey Tremayne finds himself as he signs up to the first intake of Duchy College‘s new Butchery Academy, with his Level 2 Butchery Apprenticeship starting in October.

Bailey, from Plymouth, was already working at his local butcher’s when its future was put at risk by the threat of closure. The shop is now being taken over by local businesswoman Tercia Cummins, which secures its future and means Bailey can stay on while he trains as a qualified butcher.

“I’ve always loved the butchers and it’s a really important part of the local community,” said Bailey. “I love working there and learning from the team, so when I got the chance to do the apprenticeship, I knew I wanted to take it. Hopefully one day I can manage the shop myself and keep it going for the community.”

A shop worth saving

Tercia doesn’t come from a butchery background. She spent around 18 years working in spatial design before taking on the shop.

“Taking on a butcher’s shop is a completely new chapter in my life,” she said. “After losing my son Kiam, my outlook on life changed enormously, and through a series of circumstances I came to know the shop and understand just how important it is to the local community. When I realised it could close, I felt very strongly that this was something worth saving.”

She also plans to bring a taste of her South African heritage to the counter. Customers will keep the traditional products they already know, with authentic South African lines such as boerewors, biltong and droëwors added alongside.

“Most importantly, I want to protect the future of a local butcher and create opportunities for the next generation,” said Tercia. “Bailey’s apprenticeship with Duchy College is a huge part of that, and I would love to see him become a fully qualified butcher and, one day, help take the business forward.”

What the Butchery Academy offers

The Duchy College Butchery Academy is based at the Stoke Climsland campus, near Callington. It aims to help local people build careers in butchery and give food and farming businesses across Cornwall and Devon the skilled workers they need.

The apprenticeship route was developed with employers from both counties, including Great Cornish Food, Dunbia, Kepak, James Kittows, Hearn’s Dartmoor Butchery, Philip Warren and Son, Oughs Butchery, Protea Butchers and Tamar Valley Meats.

A Level 3 pathway and short courses are also planned, so apprentices have somewhere to go next and people already in the trade can upskill.

Jon Eggins will teach the college-based part of the apprenticeship.

“There’s a lot more to butchery than cutting meat,” he said. “Apprentices will learn everything from preparing different cuts and using specialist equipment to food safety and professional butchery techniques. Combining those practical skills with real workplace experience gives apprentices a strong foundation to start their career.”

Launch day at Great Cornish Food Store

Dozens of employers, educators and would-be apprentices gathered at Great Cornish Food Store in Truro for the official launch. Young people, parents, teachers and careers advisers were among the guests.

There were hands-on activities, businesses from across Cornwall’s food and farming industry to meet, and live butchery and BBQ demonstrations.

On the BBQ was chef Ben Ambridge, who has previously worked alongside chefs including Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver. He now works in hospitality at Cornwall College Camborne and used the day to showcase local produce.

A trade looking for its next generation

Butchery faces a real skills and succession problem. According to the college, 26% of business owners plan to retire within the next five years.

And while 82% of meat business owners say they would welcome an apprentice, only 33% currently employ one.

How to apply

Applications for the Butchery Academy are open now, and apprentices can start training as early as October. Course details are on the Duchy College website.

Duchy College is the specialist arm of The Cornwall College Group for courses in the rural economy, health and wellbeing and business. Its Stoke Climsland campus stretches across 660 acres, on a working farm.

📷Bailey Tremayne and Tercia Cummins at the Butchery Academy launch