At Craft Skills Scotland, we’re proud to support learners as they develop not only new skills and qualifications, but also the confidence to progress in their careers. Euan Simpson’s apprenticeship journey is a fantastic example of growth, resilience and passion for the craft.
Euan began his modern apprenticeship as a Butchery Assistant and has since progressed to become Butchery Manager at Balcaskie Estate — a journey driven by a genuine love for the industry and a desire to continue learning.

"I chose this apprenticeship to further my skills within butchery and gain qualifications that would help progress my career. I’m a foodie and have a huge passion for what we do at the butchery and on Balcaskie Estate."

Like many learners starting a new challenge, Euan experienced a mix of excitement and nerves at the beginning of his journey.

"The butterflies always kick in when you start something new and push yourself out of your comfort zone. There’s excitement in learning new skills and becoming better, but also nerves and all of the ‘what ifs’."

During his apprenticeship, Euan faced challenges within the business itself as changes in leadership created uncertainty. However, with encouragement and support, he embraced the opportunity to continue developing and eventually stepped into a leadership role.
Throughout the process, support from his assessors played an important part in helping him succeed.

"Wendy and then Sarah were amazing — checking in regularly and making sure everything stayed on track. Sarah also supported me through a difficult period with my mental health and became more than just an assessor."

One of the most significant turning points came during his SCQF 6 qualification, where personal challenges threatened to slow his progress. Instead of pressure, Euan received understanding, encouragement and support from those around him.

"There was never any pressure put on me. I had support from my assessor, my colleague and my family. Once I overcame that hurdle, it was straight through from there."
Completing his apprenticeship became much more than gaining a qualification.
"I’ve battled with my mental health my whole life and had never completed anything I’d started before. Completing this course showed me that I could do it. It gave me a newfound inner strength and resilience to keep pushing on."

Now qualified to The Craft Butcher Diploma of Scotland (Scotland’s most prestigious Butchery Award) level, Euan is focused not only on continuing to learn himself, but also on passing his knowledge on to others and helping preserve the future of the trade.
"Butchery is a skill that’s becoming lost to a lot of people and I think we should be using our knowledge and passion to encourage the next generation."

For anyone considering an apprenticeship, Euan’s advice is simple:
"It can be scary to start, but we only grow by pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones. Once you’ve taken that first step, the next ones become easier."