A SUCCESSFUL butcher established over 150 years ago is giving customers a slice of top-quality service thanks to some expert training.

Newboulds has 12 retail shops across the Tees Valley and is famous for its top-quality meat, pies and sausages.

It has now enlisted the help of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, to deliver a tailormade programme of retail apprenticeships to almost 50 staff.

Paul Robson, Newboulds’ general manager, enlisted NECC’s help to improve the already excellent customer service and give staff the chance to gain nationally-recognised qualifications.

He said: “The training we have received from NECC has been absolutely first rate and its tailored specifically to improve areas of the business where we feel our customers will receive the most benefit.

“Newboulds has more than 70 staff, and we feel it is important to provide them with an opportunity to develop and gain nationally-recognised qualifications. To their credit, they have embraced the opportunity.”

Caroline Whitmore, NECC Training regional manager, said: “Newboulds is a prestigious company which is well-known to people in the Tees Valley, and its forward-thinking attitude with regard to training and workforce development is superb.We are delighted to be working with such a well established and successful company.”

Newboulds was acquired by Country Valley Foods of Darlington – supplier of local meat, poultry and speciality products to hotels, restaurants and butchers – in February last year.

Information on NECC training and apprenticeships is available on 0800-1957-373 or at www.necc.co.uk.