Proud support of annual meat industry awards continues

A young south London butcher taking his first steps in the business is the latest to benefit from Seymour Manufacturing International’s long-standing support for the country’s up-and-coming meat producers.

The annual awards competition, run jointly by the Institute of Meat and the Worshipful Company of Butchers, rewards the latest stars of the industry, as well as recognising some of the butchery world’s stalwarts.

Seymour Manufacturing International has been supporting the competition for more than two decades, and proudly sponsored the category for Best New Apprentice Progressing on a Trailblazer Standard once again at the 2018 ceremony.

The trophy and certificate was won by 19-year-old Harvey Woolgar, who has worked at The Proud Sow in Brockley – one of south London’s oldest butcher’s shops – since the autumn of last year.

SMI’s divisional sales manager for the south, Mike McGrath, was at the historic Painters’ Hall in London to see Harvey pick up the award, which included a £250 prize and year’s membership of the Institute of Meat.

Mike said: “Although we are not food producers, our award-winning thermal insulation products are used extensively in the food industry, and we are keen to support the important areas of meat training and education.

“It was a pleasure to meet and chat with Harvey and his colleagues Josh and Oliver – it’s great to see he is working for a company which truly values the importance of nurturing the next generation of talent in the industry.”

The Worshipful Company of Butchers is one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London, with records dating back as far as 975AD.

SMI managing director Brian Seymour said: “I’d like to add my congratulations and best wishes to Harvey. We are proud to be associated with this annual event which promotes exactly what we want to see from the next generation of meat industry entrepreneurs.”

Caption: Mike McGrath with the 2018 winner of the SMI award, Harvey Woolgar, at the historic Painters’ Hall in London