Steeple Bumpstead 21-year-old Mia Tamburrini prepares to launch private butchery business in Sudbury after recieving two prestigious accolades

A 21-year-old butcher from Steeple Bumpstead, near Haverhill, who was recently recognised with two prestigious accolades, is preparing to launch her own private butchery business.

Mia Tamburrini, who left sixth form to become an apprentice butcher four years ago, will open Raise the Steaks, which will offer a bespoke service to smallholding and farm owners, in the coming weeks.

Based out of a unit in Sudbury, Mia, who currently works for Morgan’s Butchery at Baythorne Hall, said she could not wait for the new challenge.

“I am very nervous, but I am also so excited,” she said.

“I’ve been in the trade for about four years now, which isn’t long compared to some, but after talking to a lot of people I realised there is this missing gap in the market.

“A lot of people end up with a smallholding or get a bit of land with some animals and they don’t know how good their produce could be.

“I am really looking forward to helping them.”

Mia, who has a level three diploma in butchery, and was recently named the Best Meat Apprentice with Management Potential and the Champion Meat Apprentice of the Year at the Institute Of Meat and Worshipful Company of Butchers Awards 2022.

She was presented with both accolades at a prestigious luncheon event at Butchers’ Hall in London.

Of the awards, she said: “It does mean a lot to me because I’ve been working hard to help my boss build up the shop after Covid.

“I’ve been part of the Institute of Meat since I started as a butcher and so it feels really good to be recognised by them in that way.”

Mia said she believed there were more females going into the industry now than ever before, which was a really positive change.

“Getting more women into the meat industry is important, so that in 40 years time it is more diverse.

“A lot of the best butchers I know are women, and they are quite an inspiration to me,” she added.