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Cellar technician

  • Hours

    40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £12,300 + per year

Cellar technicians install and maintain drinks systems in pubs and bars. They also fit them in other places where drinks are served.

To do this job you should be able to work quickly and accurately. You will need good problem solving skills. You will also need strong customer service skills.

You may not need any qualifications to start work as a trainee cellar technician. Some employers may prefer you to have GCSEs or a National Certificate in Engineering, or Construction.



The work

As a cellar technician, you would fit a variety of dispensing systems, including:

  • taps, piping and pumps
  • refrigeration equipment
  • gas generating equipment
  • pressure meters
  • valves and electrical wiring (to allow beers and carbonated soft drinks to be stored).

Your duties would include:

  • visiting customers (before you install the dispensing system) to check they have access to mains water, electricity and drainage
  • calculating which components will be needed to complete the installation
  • ordering all the necessary parts that will allow you to complete the job
  • making alterations, using joinery skills, in order to fit the system into the customer’s premises
  • fixing any problems that arise with the equipment
  • training bar staff on the correct use of new equipment
  • promoting new products to customers
  • setting up temporary bars for special events.

Throughout your work, you would follow strict health and safety guidelines.


Hours

You would typically 40 hours a week, but during busy periods you may have the chance to work overtime. With some employers, you may work a rota responding to emergency calls.

You would usually be based at a depot, and travel to customers to install dispensing systems. Once on site, you would work within the cellars and storerooms of bars and pubs, which may be cold and cramped. You may need to carry heavy equipment and work in awkward positions while fitting pipes and wiring.


Income

Cellar technicians can earn between around £12,300 and £15,000 a year.

With qualifications and experience, this can rise to between £20,000 and £25,000.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You may not need any qualifications to start work as a trainee cellar technician. Some employers may prefer you to have one of the following:

  • GCSEs (A-E) in English, maths, science or technology
  • BTEC First or National Certificate in Engineering, or Construction
  • City & Guilds in Engineering.

It would be an advantage if you had experience, for example in engineering, electrical work, or the brewing industry. Experience behind a bar and in a bar cellar would also be useful as this could give you the chance to complete a cellar management course, such as the one offered by the Cask Marque Trust.


Training and development

You will usually receive some on-the-job training. You may also be encouraged to take a course in hazard awareness (such as the one awarded by the Royal Society for Public Health), and moving and handling (awarded by the EDI and NCFE exam boards).

You could also take qualifications offered by the British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body (BIIAB), such as the Award in Beer and Cellar Quality, and Level 2 National Certificate in Cellar Service, Installation and Maintenance.


Skills and knowledge

To be a cellar technician, you should have:

  • good practical skills
  • the ability to use hand or power tools
  • the ability to work on your own initiative
  • good problem solving skills
  • a good level of physical fitness
  • strong customer service skills
  • the ability to use computerised equipment
  • the ability to follow detailed instructions.

More information

British Soft Drinks Association (Opens new window)
20-22 Stukeley Street
London
WC2B 5LR
Tel: 020 7430 0356
www.britishsoftdrinks.com

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) (Opens new window)
Wessex House
80 Park Street
Camberley
Surrey
GU15 3PT
Tel: 01276 684449
www.bii.org


Opportunities

You will find most jobs with breweries, soft drinks manufacturers, producers of drinks dispensing equipment, and specialist firms who provide services to breweries.

With experience you could progress to supervisor or manager, or move into sales.

Jobs are advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus offices, on websites such as Directgov (Jobseekers page), the Morning Advertiser and through industry magazines such as Caterer & Hotelkeeper.

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (Opens in a new window) there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.


Related industry information

Industry summary

The pubs, bars and nightclubs industry is represented by People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism. The hospitality, travel and tourism sector incorporates the following industries: contract food service providers, events, gambling, holiday parks, hospitality services, hostels, hotels, membership clubs, pubs, bars and nightclubs, restaurants, self-catering accommodation, tourist services, and visitor attractions. The sector accounts for a workforce of 2.1 million, most of which are based within the restaurants, hospitality services, and pubs, bars and nightclubs industries. The roles within the sector are extremely diverse and include managers, technical staff, front-of-house staff, back-of-house staff, and non-core staff.

Pubs and bars provide alcoholic and non‐alcoholic beverages. They may also provide snacks or food. Who, or what, own the pubs and bars are important:

  • Managed houses – include those that are owned by a brewery and employ salaried staff who manage and work in the outlet, and those owned by pub companies
  • Tenanted or leased pubs – these are owned by the brewery, but are occupied by licensees who pay rent to the brewery and agree to take their supply of beer
  • Free houses – these are owned and managed by the licensee and deal with a number of different suppliers and brewers
  • Nightclubs primarily offer a place to listen to music and dance for an admission fee. Drink and food are offered as additional services.

Key facts:

  • There are 332,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry.
  • 16% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
  • The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (26%).
  • 13% of the workforce has no qualifications.
  • 43% of the workforce is employed full‐time.

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]

Jobs in the industry range from: bar manager, general manager, bar person, chef, cloakroom attendant, food and beverage manager.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are approximately 29,600 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 40% work full‐time
  • 55% of the workforce is female
  • 94% of the workforce is white
  • 28% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 1 and entry level qualification (34%)

East of England – There are approximately 26,500 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 51% work full‐time
  • Workforce is evenly split between men and women
  • 93% of the workforce is white
  • 28% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

London – There are approximately 20,000 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 46% work full‐time
  • 41% of the workforce is female
  • 81% of the workforce is white
  • 39% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

North East – There are approximately 18,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 40% work full‐time
  • 62% of the workforce is female
  • 95% of the workforce is white
  • 20% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

North West – There are approximately 42,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 40% work full‐time
  • 59% of the workforce is female
  • 26% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 25% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

South East – There are approximately 42,200 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 54% work full‐time
  • 53% of the workforce is female
  • 94% of the workforce is white
  • The majority of the workforce is aged between 16‐24 years (50%)
  • 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

South West – There are approximately 25,900 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 60% work full‐time
  • 64% of the workforce is female
  • 95% of the workforce is white
  • 29% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

West Midlands – There are approximately 30,000 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 37% work full‐time
  • 61% of the workforce is female
  • 96% of the workforce is white
  • 29% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 37,700 people working in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in this region, of which:

  • 39% work full‐time
  • 60% of the workforce is female
  • 97% of the workforce is white
  • The majority of the workforce is aged between 16‐24 years (46%)
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Northern Ireland – There are approximately 43,900 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Northern Ireland, of which 5,600 work in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in 1,200 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 56% work full‐time
  • 52% of the workforce is male
  • 97% of the workforce is white
  • The majority of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years (52%)
  • 47% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Scotland – There are approximately 183,500 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Scotland, of which 28,000 work in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in 4,200 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 55% work full‐time
  • 64% of the workforce is female
  • 97% of the workforce is white
  • 39% of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 4 qualification

Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 20,700 work in the pubs, bars and nightclubs industry in 3,800 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 36% work full‐time
  • The workforce is split fairly evenly between male and female
  • 98% of the workforce is white
  • 42% of the workforce is aged between 20‐29 years
  • 32% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2009.]


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