Chef

As a Chef, you will create and prepare delicious meals while making sure food is safe, high quality, and served to a high standard.

You’ll plan menus, manage ingredients, work as part of a busy kitchen team, and use creativity to develop new dishes.

This hands-on role combines practical cooking skills, organisation, teamwork, and a passion for food to give customers a great dining experience every day.

Chef is also known as Catering Assistant, Kitchen Assistant, Cook.

Role Characteristics

Plan meals or menus that follow people’s medical and cultural needs
Prepare ingredients and cook food
Use kitchen equipment such as mixers or blenders
Store and label food correctly, adhering to health and safety guidelines
Keep kitchen and serving areas clean
Serve meals and clear tables of food

Skills

Customer service
Following instructions
Operating equipment
Planning
Record keeping
Team work

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

GCSEs

BTEC

T-Level

An apprenticeship

How to become

There are several ways to start a career as a Chef, whether you're leaving education, looking for your first job or changing careers.

Study a course or qualification – useful qualifications include GCSEs in English and Maths, along with Hospitality and Catering courses, T Levels or BTECs.
Build workplace experience – gain experience in restaurants, cafés, hotels, pubs, catering companies, schools or hospitals, helping you develop teamwork, communication, time management and customer service skills.
Apprenticeships – train as a Commis Chef, Production Chef or Professional Cook, gaining workplace experience while studying a qualification.
Apply directly – employers often look for good English, maths and communication skills, as well as a passion for food and willingness to learn.

Helpful extra qualifications: A Food Safety and Hygiene certificate can strengthen your application and help you prepare for kitchen work.

Where can this role lead

A career as a Chef could provide you with opportunities to develop your catering expertise and progress into more senior roles.

With experience, you could move into positions such as Kitchen Team Leader or Senior Chef, and with further responsibility and qualifications, progress to Catering Manager, overseeing catering services, staff and operations.

The skills you develop in menu planning, food preparation, nutrition, food safety and team leadership can support a long-term career in catering and hospitality services.

Location

Community Settings
Hospitals
Schools, colleges and universities
Prisons
Care Homes

Working hours

Full Time
Nights
Part Time
Weekdays
Weekends
Casual Hours
Overtime
Flexible Hours

Opportunities

BTECs, T-levels or A-levels

Leeds City College Catering and Hospitality courses

Find out more about Catering and Hospitality courses at Leeds City College.

Organisation: Leeds City College

View opportunity

BTECs, T-levels or A-levels

Level 2 Nutrition and Health

This qualification is designed for a wide range of students with some existing knowledge of this area who are interested in improving their understanding of nutrition and healthy eating.

Organisation: Calderdale College

View opportunity

Volunteering

Volunteering in Health and Care

Find out more about volunteering opportunities in Health and Care

Organisation: Volunteering Opportunities

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Courses

HABC Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH)

This qualification has been developed to give learners who may have contact with hazardous substances the skills and knowledge to recognise the risks associated with them and how to control them.

Organisation: Leeds City Courses

View opportunity

Job Opportunities

Catering roles on NHS Jobs

Browse various Catering opportunities across West Yorkshire.

Organisation: NHS Jobs

View opportunity