Ollie Holden-Davies at just 16-years-old has won the Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year 2025. Ollie works for Neil Powell Butchers, Hay-on-Wye and is currently completing his Level 2 apprenticeship in Proficiency in Butchery and Meat Processing. Ollie, who worked as a “Saturday boy” for Neil Powell Butchers since he was 14, became an apprentice butcher with Cambrian Training Company only five months ago.
Ollie also received a gold medal by achieving marks of over 90% in the keenly contested final. Ollie successfully beat his rival Kieran Thomas from Albert Rees Ltd, Carmarthen Market who also received a gold medal from the judges. Kieran is also studying for his Level 2 apprenticeship in Proficiency in Butchery and Meat Processing with Cambrian Training Company.
The finalists had 30 minutes to cut a whole Welsh Lamb carcass into primal joints followed by one hour and 40 minutes to create a visually exciting display of products showcasing their skills and creativity. All products had to be clearly labelled and accompanied by cooking instructions. The apprentices’ butchery skills were also tested by cutting a minimum of two lamb products identical in appearance, size and weight.
They were judged on their appearance, the meat display, creativity, skills, wastage, food safety, and health and safety.
Ollie will be adding the Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year 2025 to his growing list of achievements. He won a Brecknock YFC chicken jointing competition and went on to win the Wales title at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair last November.
Reacting to winning the award, Ollie said: “I was really surprised but it’s nice to know that people are noticing my skills and to be named the best apprentice in Wales for butchery.”
Culinary Association of Wales president and Cambrian Training Company executive chairman, Arwyn Watkins, OBE, said: “Butchery is an industry that’s really struggling to recruit young talent. We decided to introduce the Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year into the Welsh International Culinary Championships this year to shine a light on the opportunities available for young people to enter the industry.”
