An aspiring butchery apprentice from Portadown has been crowned Apprentice of the Year at the Department for the Economy’s 2025 Apprenticeship Awards on Wednesday.
The prestigious ceremony took place on Wednesday, March 26.
Ebony Murtagh describes her education journey as turbulent.
After leaving secondary school with no formal qualifications, Ebony made the courageous decision to return to education and has since become one of the leading apprentices in her field.
During her school years, Ebony worked part-time at the deli counter at W&M Farm Meats and returned to the business full time after finishing secondary school.
Ebony was assigned to work within the butchery department and quickly began to develop a passion for working with meats which led her to re-consider her education.
Since then, Ebony has gained several qualifications with Southern Regional College including her level 2 Meat & Poultry Apprenticeship and soon to be her level 3 Apprenticeship in Food Management.
Ebony commented: “I quickly became fascinated by the work and found myself constantly asking the team how they did things. I saw what the butchers were doing and thought it looked amazing. Back then, artisan butchery wasn’t as big as it is now, but I remember seeing Conor Reynolds (gold medallist at the International Young Butcher competition) and the things he was doing, including entering competitions, and it really inspired me.”
She continued: “Since studying at Southern Regional College and working in the butchery industry, I’ve gained a lot of valuable skills and knowledge, both practical and theoretical. I didn’t realise there was so much theory behind butchery, it’s about learning fat coverage, lean percentage, understanding the grading system of meat. and working out profitability by calculating weights and prices for cuts. It’s not just about the cuts. There’s also a lot of focus on the legal side of things, such as food safety and hygiene.”
Ebony Murtagh alongside SRC College lecturer Micheal Prunty.
Following the success at the Apprentice of the Year Awards, Ebony’s attention now turns to the World Butchers Competition in France where she will be soon competing to be named as the World’s Best Apprentice Butcher in the culinary capital of Paris.
Lee Campbell, Principal & CEO of Southern Regional College commented: “Ebony has demonstrated that perseverance and determination can lead to success, even in challenging circumstances. During her time at Southern Regional College, Ebony has developed her skills significantly and is becoming a hugely skilled butcher with a promising future in the industry.
“We are immensely proud of Ebony’s achievements and her recognition as the winner of the Apprentice of the Year.”
Micheal Prunty, lecturer of Food Management and Meat & Poultry at Southern Regional College, added: “As a female in butchery, Ebony has shown incredible resilience, breaking down barriers and setting an example for others to follow. She is proof that with the right guidance, qualifications, and drive, anyone can excel, regardless of gender or background.”
