How to start your career as a chef in the UK
WANT to get your teeth into a new career? Then train as a chef.
Not only does the role provide flexible hours and good job security, but chef’s salary hikes have been three per cent higher than the national average over the last year.
Search for UK job vacancies on The Sun Job Board
Curious to see how much you can earn? Check out these three tasty roles:
- Development Chef, Six Company, Glasgow (£38,000-£45,000)
- Chef, SHOREFIELD HOLIDAYS LTD, Lymington (£29,868)
- Chef, Hamberley Care Homes, Cambridge (£29,900)
What types of chef jobs are available?
The overall vacancy rate in the sector is high, with around 120,000 roles unfulfilled across the UK.
Recruiters estimate there is a ten per cent shortfall in head chef jobs rising to 21 per cent for production chefs, who are responsible for producing dishes in high volume in both kitchens and factories
What qualifications will I need to be a chef?
While there are no set academic qualifications needed, most roles require you to have four or five GCSEs in grades 9 to 4.
Many trainee chefs take an apprenticeship or college course combined with work experience.
The most in-demand courses include the Level 3 Diploma in Professional Cookery, T Level in Catering or Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts.
Find out more at nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/chef.
You can get a bursary for support with training costs at craftguildofchefs.org/education.
What personal skills will I need?
The number one skill is a flair for cooking and a genuine love of food. Without these, you may find the role tough to handle.
Being a chef means working to tight deadlines in a pressurised environment so you also need to be organised, unflappable and with great time management.
You will face criticism from more senior chefs and sometimes from customers too, so the ability to take on board feedback with a growth mindset is highly valued.
How can I progress in my career as a chef?
Chefs have a clearly defined set of steps up the career ladder, which makes it simple to see your next move.
The most common entry-level roles include food and beverage assistants who help with basic food preparation, or kitchen porters responsible for unloading and storing deliveries and washing up.
The next rung of the ladder is Commis Chef where you’ll gain knowledge of different cooking techniques followed by Chef de Partie where you look after a specific kitchen section such as a Grill Chef, Pantry Chef, Butcher Chef, Pastry Chef, Fish Chef or Vegetable Chef.
If you want to progress into management, Sous Chef puts you second in command of the Head Chef.
The top role is the Head Chef, where you’ll be responsible for staffing, budgeting, liaising with suppliers and devising new menus.
Ambitious chefs need not stop there, as many go on to open their own restaurants.
Just look at Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay!
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