A LONG-standing family butcher has praised and thanked its team of apprentices following its win at the Winchester Business Excellence Awards.

CE Evans and Sons in Alresford won won the Supporting Apprenticeships Award at this year's blacktie ceremony at the Guildhall.

Located on West Street, the business prides itself on training its apprentices in the traditional skills of a master butcher.

They have served the community since 1912 when the business was started by the Evans brothers.

Nigel Foundling, the current proprietor, has been with the business since 1994 and had been a butcher for 40 years, having also been a student at Perins School in Alresford.

He said: “We were not expecting the win at all.

“We are immensely proud of our apprentices. They have acted on what they have been taught and they are a valuable part of our business.”

Speaking about the apprentices, Eunice Foundling, Nigel's wife, said: “Training in house means you get out what you put in.

“As a company that trades on our high standards of skills and customer service, we want to ensure that all staff are trained in the same skills as we have been. We see the need for future generations to keep the trades alive.

“Most of our training simply can’t be done in a classroom. Through the apprenticeships we can train in general life skills alongside those needed to serve the public. Often, we find that someone who comes to us because they are not doing well elsewhere will flourish here, and, through talking to them we found out why.”

Rachel trained as a fishmonger with Seafish.org and learned all her practical skills at the business, and now runs the department.

Simeon completed his apprenticeship last year and learned his practical skills under Rachel's guidance.

He said: “Evans has been such a positive environment and has taught me that there is a community respect to be earned. Having to work with members of the public has helped me socially and given a lot of confidence.”

William and Alfie are both Sparsholt College students.

Eunice added: “William qualified last year and is showing great promise. He has taken on a lot responsibility and is showing that training both in craftsmanship and teamwork makes a huge difference.

“ Alfie is still in training and is making good progress, and we trust he will prove that an apprentice learns far more than simply trade skills.”