Hiring and Sponsoring Butchers (SOC Code 5431)

Butchers, classified under SOC Code 5431, are skilled tradespeople vital to the food industry who specialize in handling and processing meat products. Their primary responsibilities include:

• Slaughtering animals and efficiently removing skin, hide, hair, and internal organs.
• Cutting or sawing carcasses into manageable portions to facilitate further processing.
• Removing bones, gristle, surplus fat, rind, and other waste materials to ensure high-quality meat products.
• Cutting carcass parts into marketable pieces such as chops, joints, and steaks for sale.
• Preparing meat for curing or other processing, ensuring adherence to health and safety standards.
• Cleaning tools and work surfaces to maintain sanitation and prevent contamination.

With the UK's rich culinary culture, the demand for proficient and knowledgeable butchers is consistently on the rise. This has led many food businesses, butcher shops, and supermarkets to actively seek skilled professionals to fill these roles. This guide will assist HR professionals in navigating the process of hiring and sponsoring butchers under the UK’s immigration system.

What is SOC Code 3411 for Butchers?

SOC Code 5431 refers to butchers, who are skilled tradespeople responsible for preparing meat for consumption. Their responsibilities can include:

• Slaughtering animals: Humanely killing animals and removing skin, hide, hair, and internal organs.
• Carcass processing: Cutting or sawing carcasses into manageable portions for processing.
• Removing waste: Efficiently eliminating bones, gristle, surplus fat, rind, and other waste materials.
• Portioning cuts: Dividing carcass parts into various cuts such as chops, joints, steaks, etc. for sale.
• Meat preparation: Preparing meat for curing or additional processing to ensure quality and safety.
• Maintaining cleanliness: Cleaning tools and work surfaces to uphold hygiene standards in food preparation.

Butchers play a vital role in the food supply chain, ensuring the meat consumed is safe, high-quality, and prepared according to health regulations.

Eligibility to Hire Butchers (SOC Code 3411)

1. Job Requirements

Butchers applying for positions must demonstrate their skills in meat preparation and processing while meeting specific qualifications and experience criteria. These may include:

• Experience in Butchery: Proven track record of working in a meat processing environment or relevant experience in butchery.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in cutting, trimming, and preparing various types of meat including beef, pork, and poultry.
• Knowledge of Meat Cuts: Familiarity with different cuts of meat and their culinary uses, including chops, joints, and steaks.
• Health and Safety Compliance: Understanding of food safety regulations and techniques for maintaining cleanliness in work areas.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to handle physically demanding tasks, including lifting heavy carcasses and standing for extended periods.
• Certification: While formal certifications may not be necessary, courses in meat safety, processing, or culinary arts may be beneficial.

Ensure the job description aligns with SOC Code 5431 and that the butcher’s experience and skills meet the expectations for the role.

1. Salary Thresholds
2. Use the Minimum Salary Calculator to ensure your salary offer meets immigration requirements.

Sponsoring Butchers: A Step-by-Step Guide for HR Professionals

Once you’ve confirmed that the role and candidate meet the eligibility requirements, follow this step-by-step guide to sponsoring Butchers under SOC Code 5431.

Step 1: Obtain a Sponsor Licence

Before hiring non-UK Butchers, your company or institution must obtain a sponsor licence. This licence enables you to legally sponsor overseas Butchers under the Skilled Worker Visa program.

• Sponsor Licence Application: Submit documentation proving that your business is legitimate and has a genuine vacancy. Visit the sponsor licence application guide for more information. 
• Sponsor Licence Fees: Small businesses typically pay £574, while larger institutions pay £1,579. For more information, visit the sponsor licence fees guide. 
• Processing Time: Applications typically take up to 8 weeks, but using the Sponsor Licence Priority Service can reduce the processing time to 10 working days.

Once your sponsor licence is approved, you will receive a sponsor licence number, which allows you to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

Once you have your sponsor licence, the next step is to assign a CoS to the Butchers. This document provides key details about the job and the individual being sponsored.

• Defined vs Undefined CoS: Use a Defined CoS for Butchers applying from outside the UK, and an Undefined CoS for those already in the UK. Learn more in the Defined & Undefined Certificates of Sponsorship guide. 
• Required Documents: Provide details such as the Butchers’s portfolio, passport and job offer. Refer to Documents Required for Certificate of Sponsorship for a full list of necessary documents.

Step 3: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once the CoS is issued, the Butchers can apply for the Skilled Worker Visa.

• Visa Fees: Fees vary depending on the role and visa length—use the visa fees calculator to estimate the costs. 
• Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are required to pay this charge as part of sponsoring non-UK workers. This is separate from visa fees.

Conducting a Right to Work Check for Butchers

Before the Butchers begins working, you must conduct a right to work check to ensure they are legally allowed to work in the UK.

• Manual Right to Work Check: Verify original documents such as the Butchers’s passport and visa. 
• Online Right to Work Check: If the Butchers holds an eVisa, you can use the UK government’s online system to verify their right-to-work status.

For more details on how to perform these checks, see the right to work check guide.

Post-Hiring Responsibilities and Compliance

1. Record-Keeping and Reporting  
2. • Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the Butchers’s employment details, salary and contact information. 
   • Reporting Changes: Report any significant changes to the Butchers’s role—such as promotions or salary increases—via the Sponsor Management System (SMS).
3. Sponsor Licence Duties and Compliance
4. Failure to comply with your sponsor licence duties can result in penalties or sponsor licence revocation, impacting your ability to sponsor future Butcherss.

How Borderless Can Help with Sponsoring Butchers

Sponsoring Butchers under SOC Code 5431 can be a complex process, but Borderless can simplify it for you. We offer comprehensive support to help you manage the entire sponsorship process.

End-to-End Sponsorship Support

At Borderless, we assist with:

• Sponsor Licence Application: Guiding you through the application process and ensuring all required documents are submitted correctly. 
• Certificate of Sponsorship Assignment: Streamlining the CoS process to make hiring easier. 
• Compliance Management: Helping you stay compliant with immigration laws to avoid penalties.

If you need assistance with hiring or sponsoring Butchers, get in touch for personalised support.

Conclusion

Hiring and sponsoring Butchers under SOC Code 5431 can be a rewarding way to enrich the cultural landscape of your organisation. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully navigate the sponsorship process while ensuring compliance with UK immigration laws.

For further guidance, Borderless is ready to assist you with all your sponsorship needs. Contact us for expert advice.