Apprenticeship Catering Jobs

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Helping you find a career in the catering industry

Catering is all about preparing and serving food to customers or members of the public. It's an industry that is hugely varied and incredibly fast-paced - and the workforce has to be able to keep up!

Catering covers a wide array of eating outlets: fast food, fancy restaurants, event buffets and everything in between. This means that there are many different environments that you could be working in through catering and the choice is yours. Despite these different catering environments, the goal is the same across them all: provide the best experience possible for the customer.

It's an exciting industry to be in, always busy, and changing food trends mean that you'll never be bored and different opportunities will constantly arise. The global demand for great food experiences also means that you could work all over the world preparing and serving food.

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Skills & interests required for a career in Catering

The exact skills that you require in catering will depend on the role that you want to do. You can't become a chef, for example, without knowing how to prepare and cook food at a commercial level.

To work on the serving side of catering you'll need to be able to give excellent levels of customer service.

Catering apprenticeships & other career progress routes for school leavers

Catering is a great industry to enter if you're looking for responsibility early on. It's such a fast-paced industry that opportunities quickly arise for people to step up and take on important roles. Once you're given this chance, it'll be up to you to prove that you're up to the challenge and when you do you'll be able to move up the ranks. However, make sure to seek out the advice of those in senior positions - they may offer you mentorship and help your professional development.

If you're entering the industry wanting to become a chef, you'll likely begin as a kitchen assistant before progressing to a sous chef or a chef de partie. After this, you will progress into a chef position and, if you decide to stay within the industry, you could work all the way up to a head chef and run your own kitchen.

Typical career development you'll be given

Of course, you're going to need to have a passion for food to work in the catering industry. You'll also need to be able to stay level-headed in hectic environments to avoid mistakes being made!

There are a variety of catering courses available and these will help to prove your dedication to the industry and expand your cooking repertoire - check out your local college or university to see what's on offer.

Tips for getting into the field

Of course, you're going to need to have a passion for food to work in the catering industry. You'll also need to be able to stay level-headed in hectic environments to avoid mistakes being made!

There are a variety of catering courses available and these will help to prove your dedication to the industry and expand your cooking repertoire - check out your local college or university to see what's on offer.

What do Catering professionals get paid?

The pay can vary quite widely within this industry. A general rule is that if you are able to manage people, or a business, your pay will significantly increase. Below are a few average salaries for jobs within catering:

Catering Manager - £22,200 Head Chef - £27,000 Kitchen Assistant - £13,400 Restaurant Manager - £23,000

What qualifications do I need for a career in Catering?

Experience speaks louder than your qualifications in this industry; so if you've got bar, hotel, or any other kitchen work experiences make sure that you're stressing it in your CV!

It may be worth looking into courses that will help you to develop the skills that are required by the industry. Food and drink management courses, for example, will hone your leadership skills and give you a deeper understanding of food and nutrition. Overall, this'll enhance your career prospects and allow you to enter the industry at a higher level. Often these courses can be done online or in the evening, so they are able to fit around your schedule.

Catering industry bodies

Professional Association for Catering Education

The Restaurant Association

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