18 Oct, 2023
Jefferies military insight day Nov 9 2023
Jefferies – a leading global, full service investment banking and capital markets firm invites service leavers, veterans…
Careers
As an enormous, wide-ranging sector, the catering and hospitality industry offers an array of opportunities and a strong framework for progression. Could catering management be the career you’ve been waiting for?
The catering industry is a vital segment of the broader hospitality sector, specialising in providing food and beverage services for events, corporate functions, weddings, parties, and other gatherings. This industry plays a crucial role in event planning and execution, offering tailored culinary experiences that range from casual buffets to gourmet dining. Catering companies are responsible for not only preparing and serving food but also managing logistics, staff, and sometimes even event coordination. The industry thrives on its ability to deliver personalised services that meet specific client needs, making it an essential component of any large-scale event or celebration.
In recent years, the catering industry has seen significant changes, driven by evolving consumer preferences and global trends. There is an increasing demand for sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients, as well as for options that cater to dietary restrictions, such as vegan, gluten-free, and allergen-friendly menus. Technology has also had a substantial impact, with innovations in online booking, digital menu planning, and event management tools improving efficiency and customer satisfaction. Despite these advancements, the industry faces challenges such as labour shortages and the need for stringent health and safety protocols, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the catering industry continues to adapt and evolve, maintaining its critical role in the success of social and corporate events.
The Chance to Progress: The catering industry offers significant opportunities for career progression. Individuals can start in entry-level positions, such as a server or kitchen assistant, and work their way up to roles like event coordinator, head chef, or even catering manager. The industry values experience, creativity, and strong leadership skills, allowing those who demonstrate talent and dedication to advance quickly. For entrepreneurial-minded individuals, there’s also the potential to start their own catering business, turning a passion for food and hospitality into a thriving enterprise.
A Dynamic and Challenging Industry: Catering is a fast-paced and ever-changing industry that requires adaptability and problem-solving skills. Each event brings new challenges, from managing logistics to catering to diverse dietary needs and creating bespoke menus. This dynamic environment keeps the work exciting and allows professionals to continuously develop their skills. The industry is also highly collaborative, often involving close teamwork to ensure events run smoothly, making it an ideal career for those who enjoy working in a hands-on, people-orientated setting.
A Popular Second Career Option: Catering is a popular choice for those looking to switch careers, particularly for individuals who have a passion for food and hospitality but started in different fields. The industry welcomes diverse backgrounds, and many successful catering professionals have transitioned from careers in corporate, education, or other sectors. This flexibility makes catering an attractive option for those seeking a new challenge or a more fulfilling career later in life. Additionally, the demand for skilled professionals in catering means that there are ample opportunities for newcomers to make a significant impact relatively quickly.
The catering industry offers a variety of roles, from kitchen assistants and bar staff to chefs and waiting staff, but catering managers hold a crucial supervisory position that ensures the smooth operation of food and beverage services. Catering managers are responsible for planning, organising, and developing these services while ensuring that food hygiene standards, customer expectations, and financial targets are met. The specific duties of a catering manager can vary significantly depending on the size and type of the establishment. In smaller venues, catering managers often take on a hands-on role, directly involved in the day-to-day operations. In contrast, larger organisations typically have multiple managers or supervisors to oversee different aspects of the catering functions.
Catering managers can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, factories, prisons, cruise ships, hotels, universities, or visitor attractions. They may also work for contract catering companies that provide services to various clients across different sectors. Early in their careers, catering managers often gain experience by working in diverse roles, including both contract catering and in-house positions. This broad experience is crucial for career progression, allowing individuals to move up to assistant catering manager roles and, eventually, to full catering manager positions. Those who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and motivation can expect good promotion prospects.
Working for well-established companies often provides catering managers with broader career opportunities, including extensive training and development programs. Large hotel and catering chains with international operations may also offer the chance to work abroad. Additionally, there are promising prospects for self-employment; experienced catering managers may choose to open and manage their own catering businesses, leveraging their industry knowledge and skills to succeed independently.
This is a huge employment sector, so these are just a few examples:
The general day-to-day duties of a catering manager might include:
During food service, catering managers will also supervise kitchen and waiting staff, as well as making sure that the food goes out on time and is of a high standard.
Source: www.ucas.com
The skills required will depend on the type of organisation in which you wish to work, but there are some that are common to most catering management roles in the industry. These include:
If you’ve served in the military, particularly in a role related to catering or hospitality, you’ve likely already gained valuable experience that can be directly applied to a civilian career in this sector. The armed forces provide opportunities to earn professional qualifications in hospitality and catering, often through distance learning or online courses, which can significantly bolster your credentials when transitioning to a civilian role. These qualifications, combined with the practical experience gained during your service, can give you a competitive edge in the civilian job market.
Catering managers, in particular, need to possess a range of skills that are well-honed in military service. The ability to think quickly and use initiative is crucial in managing catering operations, as the job often involves adapting to new situations, responding to changing customer needs, and staying up-to-date with the latest developments in equipment and procedures. Additionally, military personnel often excel in these roles due to their strong work ethic, discipline, and leadership abilities. Your personality and proactive approach to tackling challenges are key assets, making you well-suited to succeed as a catering manager.
To qualify as a catering manager, a combination of formal education, relevant training, and practical experience is essential. Here’s a breakdown of the key qualifications and training you’ll need:
Food Safety and Hygiene Qualifications: One of the most crucial areas for anyone aspiring to be a catering manager is food safety and hygiene. Catering managers are responsible for ensuring that all food handling and preparation meets strict safety standards to prevent foodborne illnesses. In the UK, this typically starts with obtaining a Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering certificate, which covers the basics of food hygiene and safety practices. However, for a managerial role, more advanced qualifications are often required.
Level 3 Food Hygiene: The Level 3 Award in Food Safety and Hygiene is specifically designed for supervisors and managers in the catering industry. This course provides a deeper understanding of food safety management, including how to implement and maintain high standards of hygiene in a catering environment. It covers topics such as controlling hazards, understanding food safety laws, and how to manage a team to ensure compliance with safety standards. Achieving this qualification is essential for those looking to step into a managerial role within catering.
Level 3 HACCP Training Course: In addition to food hygiene, catering managers must be proficient in Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles. HACCP is a systematic approach to identifying, evaluating, and controlling food safety hazards. The Level 3 HACCP training course teaches catering managers how to develop and implement a HACCP plan within their operations, ensuring that all potential hazards are effectively managed. This qualification is often a requirement for those responsible for overseeing food safety in catering environments, as it helps prevent contamination and ensures that food is safe for consumption.
By obtaining these qualifications, along with gaining practical experience in the catering industry, you’ll be well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of a catering manager. These certifications not only enhance your knowledge and skills but also demonstrate to potential employers that you are committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene.
It is particularly valuable for aspiring catering managers to hold a food hygiene and/or health and safety qualification – indeed many employers will expect this. If you don’t already have one, you may be required to take a qualification at level 2 or above in food safety and/or health and safety.
Because food safety and hygiene, and health and safety in the kitchen, form such an important part of the catering manager’s role, you would do well to consider studying for a level 3 qualification in this area. Those available include:
Just to give you an idea, we’ll look at a couple of these in more detail …
Level 3 Food Hygiene
This course is designed for managers and supervisors in the catering industry, to help them understand their essential day-to-day responsibilities, including how to implement the basics of a HACCP food safety management system. It offers knowledge of food hygiene practice and legal responsibilities, and provides further detail on the controls that can be implemented to ensure that the food-handling process is as safe and hygienic as possible. The course provides learners with up-to-date knowledge of how to comply with food safety law. It explains how to promote best practice in the workplace and the basics of implementing a HACCP food safety management system.
Level 3 HACCP training course
By law, all food businesses must ensure that they implement an effective food safety management system in their premises, based on the principles of HACCP. This course is designed to help learners understand more about what’s involved in a successful HACCP food safety management system. It outlines each essential step of the HACCP planning process and aids understanding of how to identify food safety hazards, select relevant control measures and ensure the HACCP system continues to operate efficiently and effectively. It is recommended that learners take a level 3 Supervising Food Safety course before embarking on this one.
Level 3 courses such as those described above can later be built on with higher-level qualifications at level 4 and above, depending on employment progression, while before embarking on a level 3 course, it is often recommended to take a more basic course covering the same subject at level 2 in order to ensure a strong understanding and a thorough knowledge basis on which to build your qualifications portfolio.
BROWSE IT!
The Independent’s website has a fully searchable list of food safety and hygiene-related courses.
Under the ELC scheme, a wide range of learning can be taken, provided it is offered by an approved provider listed on the ELC website at www.enhancedlearningcredits.com and is at level 3 or above. For full details of how to make the most of your ELC, refer to the in-depth features elsewhere on this website.
CATERING AND HOSPITALITY APPRENTICESHIPS
This sector serves up a host of different apprenticeships in all kinds of venues. It also includes customer service roles. Schools, colleges, hospitals and large businesses all have canteens and dining facilities, and all of these need catering staff and managers.
Use your favourite search engine to find out more, or click here to browse apprenticeship options near you.
When starting a career in catering management, most entry-level positions are at the supervisory or assistant manager level. These roles offer a stepping stone to higher management positions, providing essential experience and training. Depending on your qualifications and previous experience, you may begin as a catering assistant or in another entry-level position, gradually working your way up to a management role. Gaining experience in various aspects of catering operations and obtaining relevant qualifications will enable you to take on more responsibilities, such as supervising less experienced colleagues, and eventually apply for assistant manager positions. Many employers value candidates who demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow within the industry.
To apply for an assistant manager or trainee manager position, you typically need a solid general education and some relevant experience in the catering industry. Many catering companies offer management trainee schemes that are designed to fast-track employees into managerial roles. These schemes usually require a qualification, such as a foundation degree or bachelor's degree, or significant relevant experience. If you lack formal qualifications, gaining practical experience through part-time or seasonal work in catering outlets, such as pubs, hotels, restaurants, and fast-food chains, is crucial. Roles like catering assistant or barista provide a strong foundation of skills and industry knowledge.
Employers in the catering industry are particularly attracted to candidates with a strong commercial acumen, a commitment to delivering high-quality service, and the motivation to contribute ideas that can enhance the profitability of the business. Experience in people management is highly valued, especially for Service leavers who often possess strong leadership skills. Any experience in a supervisory or team leader role will give you a significant advantage when applying for management positions.
To find job vacancies, consider looking at online job boards, industry-specific recruitment sites, and company career pages. Networking within the industry and attending relevant career fairs can also provide valuable opportunities to connect with potential employers and learn about available positions.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN JOB-SEEKING
Catering manager jobs in hotels are often advertised under the title of ‘food and beverage manager’
Figures below are intended to give a rough guide only.
Salaries vary depending on the size and type of organisation, job sector and region. In addition to salary, additional benefits may be included, such as a company pension and/or share scheme, health insurance, gym membership or a company car (for those in senior positions). Some organisations also offer bonuses.
Look for job vacancies on the major recruitment portals, as well as specialist sites such as:
Jefferies – a leading global, full service investment banking and capital markets firm invites service leavers, veterans…
Guy Lock's journey from the Army to becoming the Global Operations Director at Arcadis Intelligence and Advisory is a remarkable example of successful transition from military to civilian life.
Read more »
