The catering industry in the united kingdom is a thriving one, with yearly turnover of around £4 million. In addition, with its ever-growing success rates, it’s a popular job choice for both young and old. Anyone from any background can succeed in finding a catering job - all that is needed is an enthusiastic approach along with an strong passion for food.

 

 

Training and qualifications

 

 

There is no fast track to becoming a fully-fledged chef. It requires a great deal of dedication, talent, as well as years of experience. 

 

Catering job apprenticeship: If you’re still in school, and know for sure that you would like to get a catering job, it’s wise to apply for an apprenticeship at the age of sixteen, or when you’ve finished your GCSEs. This is how many chefs have started out - as food preparation workers. Duties involved will of course call for less ability and limited responsibility, however as you progress you will be given more responsibilities along with higher-skilled duties to execute. A catering job apprenticeship can be very tough to come by, nonetheless there are numerous school programs available for young people, offering internships and workshops so that you can eventually get the catering job you’re after.

 

National Vocational Qualification: Three years after you've commenced an apprenticeship, you will be eligible for a National Vocational Qualification. A diploma in Business Mathematics or Business Administration will also help to secure a higher placed catering job. 

 

 

Culinary Arts School: Another (and better) way in which you'll be able to secure a good catering job is by registering at a Culinary Arts school. The length of courses at these schools range from several months to as long as four years or more, based on the course you take up. This sort of formal training will give you higher chances of getting the catering job you want as opposed to no prior formal training.

 

 

Food Hygiene Certificate: If you know that you’ll be in direct contact with food in your catering job, you’ll have to acquire a food hygiene certificate. This shows your employer that you've learned about and also grasped the basics of food hygiene in the kitchen area.

 

Other courses: If you wish to be a manager of a food establishment or follow a more corporate-related catering job, there are also other courses you can take to achieve your goal. These are usually courses in establishment supervision and management, provided by private universities as well as vocational schools.

 

Various kinds of catering jobs

 

 

There are several different catering jobs available for any skill level. Each position has its own responsibilities or specialisations - so with hard work and perseverance it’s easy to work your way towards the specific catering job that you would like.

 

 

Kitchen Aide: This is an entry level catering job, usually for those who have entered into an apprenticeship. In this catering job you'll execute repetitious tasks like preparing ingredients, slicing meats and vegetables, blending soups or mixing sauces. Additionally, you will assist the chefs in handling pots, pans and cutlery. In this catering job you'll also assist with the washing up of the utensils, and cleaning the cooking area after use. 

 

 

 

Commis Chef: This catering job is a step up from Kitchen Aide. In this position, you'll undergo direct apprenticeship of the kitchen’s Chef De Partie. Underneath his/her direct guidance you'll learn the basic necessities of food preparation. 

 

Chef De Partie: This catering job enables you to pull together the operations of the kitchen. Your task is to ensure that the prepared food goes out to the customers in the restaurant area instantly. This catering job also enables you to supervise the operations of the commis chef under his/her guidance.

 

 

 

Sous Chef: The head chef of an establishment will usually turn over his/her tasks to a sous chef. So, essentially, this catering job means that you'll be a second-in-command. You will undertake all the duties of the head chef in his/her absence.

 

 

 

Head Chef: All of the kitchen personnel will operate under command of the head chef. In this catering job, you will choose specific menu courses as well as handle the economic side of the business. This catering job demands much more responsibility than other positions. It can take up to 15 years of experience to become a head chef.

 

 

 

Executive Chef: If an establishment, such as a hotel, has more than one restaurant it will usually employ the services of an executive chef. This catering job gives you even greater responsibility than a head chef. An executive chef controls everything from the menus to the cuisine speciality of a restaurant.