Hospitality apprenticeships

If you're eager to dive into a customer service role but seeking an alternative to academic routes, such as A-levels, an apprenticeship could be your ticket to success

Hospitality apprenticeships are available starting from intermediate (Level 2), similar to GCSEs, to higher programmes (Level 4), equivalent to a foundation degree.

Choosing to train as an apprentice is an ideal way to gain on-the-job experience while developing your practical skills at the same time.

What hospitality apprenticeships are available?

On a hospitality apprenticeship, you can train as a:

• chef de partie
• commis chef
• event assistant
• food technologist
• hospitality manager
• hospitality supervisor
• hospitality team member
• senior culinary chef
• senior production chef.

Discover more about apprenticeships.

Where can I study for a hospitality apprenticeship?

Some examples of apprenticeships include:

• Chef de partie (Level 3) - Craven College
• Commis chef (Level 2) - Windsor College Group
• Events assistant (Level 3) - Leeds City College
• Food technologist (Level 3) - Nottingham Trent University
• Hospitality manager (Level 4) - College of West Anglia
• Hospitality team member (Level 2) - Weston College
• Senior culinary chef (Level 4) - Hospitality Industry Training
• Senior production chef (Level 3) - York College & University Centre

Local councils sometimes offer apprenticeships in events and hospitality. These programmes provide valuable on-the-job training with a well-respected organisation, though positions are limited and offered on a vacancy basis.

You can research a full list of providers at gov.uk.

What do hospitality apprenticeships involve?

The level of your apprenticeship will determine the difficulty of tasks you'll be assigned and the extent of your responsibilities. The focus of your programme also plays a crucial role, for example, an events assistant apprenticeship will differ from that of a hospitality manager.

For example, during a commis chef Level 2 apprenticeship, you'll learn how to prepare and cook food under the guidance of a senior chef in a professional kitchen, whereas an event assistant Level 3 apprenticeship involves finding the right venue, coordinating transportation, and catering.

At the end of the training period, you'll take an end-point assessment managed by an external organisation. This assessment depends on your programme. For example, the food technologist apprenticeship involves a:

• written knowledge test
• workplace project and presentation
• professional dialogue and interview.

Alternatively, the senior production chef apprenticeship involves a 90-minute test of 45 multiple-choice questions, 4-hour practical observation and a 60-minute professional discussion.

Who are they aimed at?

For an intermediate apprenticeships you don’t need qualifications, while advanced programmes often require GCSEs in English, maths, and science. You also need to be over 16 and not enrolled in full-time education to apply.

You'll be an ideal candidate for a hospitality apprenticeship if you have excellent customer service skills, the ability to work as part of a team, excellent communication skills, an eye for detail, time management skills, and are hardworking.

How much will I be paid?

Apprentices who are under 19 years old and those over 19 in their first year of apprenticeship will earn a minimum wage of £6.40 per hour (April 2024).

After completing the first year and reaching the age of 19, the pay will increase to the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for your age group. You'll be paid for all working hours, including the training time, and you'll also receive a minimum of 20 days paid holiday.

While the NMW is the minimum amount that employers must pay, many employers offer higher wages, which means that your earning potential can increase as you progress through your apprenticeship. For example, as a hospitality team member apprentice at Goodies Farm Shop, you can earn between £9,609.60 to £18,964.40 per year, while Rick Stein's chef academy pays £10.42 per hour with the added benefits of tips.

How do I become a hospitality apprentice?

When applying for an apprenticeship, make sure that you understand what the apprenticeship entails so that you can tailor your application to the role.

Most applications are submitted online through an application form but check with the employer beforehand. Some employers may require you to submit an up-to-date CV and cover letter. It's recommended that you have relevant examples of your experience to support your application. For guidance, take a look at our example apprenticeship cover letter.

If applying through an employer, they may ask you to participate in an assessment centre or insight day, while some companies use video interviews as part of their recruitment process.

Discover how to apply for an apprenticeship.

Find out more

• Discover 5 skills you'll gain from customer service jobs.
• Explore hospitality jobs.
• Get the lowdown on higher apprenticeships.