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Kitchen assistant

  • Hours

    30-40 per week

  • Starting salary

    £11,700 + per year

If you are interested in food and like being part of a team, this job could be ideal for you.

As a kitchen assistant, you would do basic food preparation, make sure that chefs have everything they need and be responsible for cleaning the kitchen. You would follow strict hygiene, health and safety rules.

You will not usually need any particular qualifications to work as a kitchen assistant. However, a good standard of general education would be useful.

To become a kitchen assistant, you will need to be able to carry out tasks quickly and competently. You will need to follow instructions. You will also need to use your initiative and work in a team.



The work

Kitchens are often divided into sections. For example, vegetables could be prepared in one area, and meat and fish in another area. As an assistant, you will often support the chef in a specific work section.

Your duties would also include:

  • preparation of basic food
  • unloading deliveries from suppliers
  • organising the storeroom
  • washing kitchen appliances, work surfaces, floors and walls.

You would also help chefs get ready for serving food to customers. This could involve washing, peeling and trimming food items to make them ready for cooking when customers order them. You would use a variety of kitchen equipment such as automatic mixers, chipping machines and special knives and cutters.


Hours

Your hours of work can vary, but will usually include shifts, evenings, weekends and public holidays. If you work for a catering company and you are based at a factory or business, your hours are likely to be more regular than in a restaurant. Part-time, casual or seasonal work may be available.

Your working environment will often be hot, busy and noisy. You may find this work unsuitable if you suffer from certain skin conditions.

You will usually be provided with a uniform.


Income

Starting salaries can be around £11,700 to £12,500 a year. With experience, this could rise to around £15,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.


Entry requirements

You will not usually need any particular qualifications to work as a kitchen assistant, but a good general secondary education would be useful. You could prepare for this work by taking a qualification such as:

  • Level 1 Award in Introduction to Employment in the Hospitality Industry
  • Level 1 Certificate in General Hospitality
  • Level 1 Certificate in General Cookery.

It will help you if you have previous experience of working in a kitchen, or in hospitality or catering.

Another route into catering is through an Apprenticeship scheme such as Level 2 apprenticeship in Hospitality & Catering (Hospitality Services). To find out more about Apprenticeships in hospitality, see the following websites:


Training and development

You will usually receive on-the-job training from an experienced member of staff. This may be combined with going to college to learn about food hygiene, health and safety, and food preparation techniques.

You may also be able to work towards qualifications such as:

  • Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Hospitality Services
  • Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Food Preparation & Cooking
  • Level 2 Award in Practical Food Safety in Catering.

Skills and knowledge

To become a kitchen assistant, you will need to have:

  • energy and enthusiasm
  • a flexible approach to work
  • the ability to carry out tasks quickly and competently
  • a strong interest in food
  • the ability to follow instructions
  • good spoken communication skills
  • the ability to use your initiative and work in a team.

More information

Springboard UK (Opens new window)
http://springboarduk.net

People 1st (Opens new window)
2nd Floor
Armstrong House
38 Market Square
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1LH
Tel: 01895 817 000
www.uksp.co.uk/ (careers information)
www.people1st.co.uk


Opportunities

You could find work in kitchens throughout the country in restaurants, hotels, care homes, schools, colleges and universities. There are usually plenty of vacancies for this type of work.

With experience, skills, further training and level 2 NVQs, you may be able to work towards becoming a trainee or junior chef. You could also progress into management or move into bar work or food service.

Jobs can be advertised in the local and national press, through Jobcentre Plus, and on the following websites:

You could also approach places directly to find out about vacancies.

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 restaurants 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.

The restaurant industry provides food and drink and includes:

  • Fast food establishments – such as McDonalds, Burger King and KFC, as well as traditional outlets such as fish and chips shops, sushi bars and sandwich bars
  • Cafes and coffee shops
  • Mainstream Restaurants – these are high street restaurants which tend to be mid‐price and include many branded and themed chains such as Pizza Express, Garfunkel’s and Ask
  • Fine Dining – these tend to be more expensive restaurants that offer unique dishes and, sometimes, more experimental cuisine.

Key facts:

  • There are 614,100 people working in the restaurant industry.
  • 14% of the workforce has an NVQ Level 4 or above qualification.
  • The majority of the workforce has a NVQ Level 2 qualification (28%).
  • 13% of the workforce has no qualifications.
  • 53% of the workforce is employed full‐time.

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

Jobs in the industry range from: kitchen assistants, bar manager, general manager, chef, cleaner, conference and banqueting manager, waiter/waitress, food and beverage manager, kitchen porter, restaurant manager, wine waiter.


National and regional data

East Midlands – There are approximately 45,200 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 45% work full‐time
  • 53% of the workforce is female
  • 70% of the workforce is white
  • 28% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

East of England – There are approximately 47,300 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 50% work full‐time
  • 53% of the workforce is female
  • 81% of the workforce is white
  • The majority of the workforce is aged 16‐24 years (44%)
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

London – There are approximately 92,900 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 64% work full‐time
  • 69% of the workforce is female
  • 39% of the workforce is white
  • 20% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 30% of the workforce has an NVQ level 1 and entry level qualification

North East – There are approximately 25,300 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 46% work full‐time
  • 55% of the workforce is female
  • 80% of the workforce is white
  • The majority of the workforce is aged between 16‐24 years (48%)
  • 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

North West – There are approximately 65,500 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 53% work full‐time
  • 46% of the workforce is female
  • 79% of the workforce is white
  • The majority of the workforce is aged between 16‐24 years (47%)
  • 28% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

South East – There are approximately 76,500 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 61% work full‐time
  • 45% of the workforce is female
  • 73% of the workforce is white
  • 21% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 26% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

South West – There are approximately 53,000 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 47% work full‐time
  • 56% of the workforce is female
  • 93% of the workforce is white
  • 36% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 35% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

West Midlands – There are approximately 48,300 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 49% work full‐time
  • 42% of the workforce is female
  • 64% of the workforce is white
  • 22% of the workforce is 20‐24 years
  • 31% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

Yorkshire and the Humber – There are approximately 51,000 people working in the restaurant industry in this region, of which:

  • 43% work full‐time
  • 52% of the workforce is female
  • 79% of the workforce is white
  • 26% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 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 20,800 work in the restaurant industry in 2,000 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 55% work full‐time
  • 57% of the workforce is female
  • 88% of the workforce is white
  • 34% of the workforce is 20‐29 years
  • 26% 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 59,600 work in the restaurant industry in 6,200 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 51% work full‐time
  • 54% of the workforce is female
  • 88% of the workforce is white
  • 24% of the workforce is 24‐29 years
  • 27% of the workforce has an NVQ level 3 qualification

Wales – There are approximately 86,100 people working in the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector as whole in Wales, of which 28,800 work in the restaurant industry in 3,300 establishments. Details as follows:

  • 49% work full‐time
  • 60% of the workforce is female
  • 88% of the workforce is white
  • 22% of the workforce is 16‐19 years
  • 29% of the workforce has an NVQ level 2 qualification

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


Career paths


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