High schools across Scotland are being invited to bring high-quality Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Prime Scottish Pork into practical food lessons as the Make it Scotch Meat Voucher Scheme, operated by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), returns for the 2026/27 academic year.
Applications open on 24th August, giving eligible secondary schools the chance to apply for a meat voucher worth up to £180, depending on school size, to spend in their local Scotch Butchers Club member who proudly sells the quality-assured Scotch red meat brands. The scheme is designed to help pupils build confidence in the kitchen while learning more about nutrition, provenance, food production and Scotland’s red meat supply chain.
Alongside the voucher, schools can also request copies of QMS’s brand-new recipe cards for use in lessons, featuring Scotch Beef Burritos, Scotch Lamb Cheesy Shepherd’s Pie Loaded Potatoes and Prime Scottish Pork Katsu. The simple, tasty recipes have been developed to support engaging, hands-on cookery lessons that showcase the versatility, taste and nutritional value of Scotch red meat.
The scheme continues to support home economics and food education by helping teachers access quality Scottish ingredients and connect classroom cooking with real-life food and farming stories. It also provides an opportunity for pupils to explore the role of local butchers, farmers and processors in producing food to recognised quality assurance standards.
Schools can further enhance learning by requesting support from a Make It Scotch Ambassador, bringing farming, food and cookery expertise into the classroom through demonstrations, discussions and first-hand insight into Scotland’s red meat sector.
Abby Goldie, Community Engagement Coordinator at QMS, said: “The Meat Voucher Scheme is a practical way to help schools put Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Prime Scottish Pork at the heart of food education. By giving pupils the chance to cook with quality-assured, locally sourced ingredients, we can support teachers in delivering lessons that are engaging, relevant and rooted in Scotland’s food and farming story.
“We know that hands-on learning can make a lasting impression. From preparing a nutritious meal to understanding where ingredients come from, the scheme helps young people develop valuable life skills while building a greater appreciation of the people and standards behind Scotch red meat.”
Samantha Barrick, Home Economics Teacher at Dumfries High School, said: “The voucher from Quality Meat Scotland enabled us to provide pupils with high-quality Scotch meat sourced from a local butcher, The Butchery.
“This opportunity allowed us to use a wider variety of cuts and gave pupils valuable experience working with locally sourced produce, enhancing their learning and appreciation of Scottish ingredients.”
The Make it Scotch Meat Voucher Scheme opens for applications on 24th August and closes on 30th January. Vouchers will be issued on a rolling basis and must be spent by 12th February.
Teachers can apply via the Make it Scotch website and are encouraged to apply early to make the most of the voucher and supporting classroom resources.
For further information, please contact Abby Goldie, Community Engagement Coordinator, Quality Meat Scotland, via email: agoldie@qmscotland.co.uk