Catering and Hospitality
Demand for graduates in the catering and hospitality sector is set to increase over the next five years, with a predicted 69,000 more managerial jobs being created. When you consider the breadth of the industry, this is hardly surprising. The sector covers all businesses that produce food, drink or offer accommodation services, including restaurants, hotels, pubs, bars and clubs, hospitals, schools.
Hotel and restaurant managers are often the face of the business, meeting and greeting customers at front-of-house and ensuring all their needs are met. Catering managers have a less customer-facing role and are more concerned with co-ordinating activities behind the scenes.
As well as managerial roles, graduates might also consider event management, promotions or operational roles. Qualified chefs, especially those with experience, are in high demand amongst employers as there is currently a shortage in the UK.
Working hours in the catering and hospitality industry vary depending on what kind of job you do. Contract caterers often do normal working hours but a restaurant chef may need to be alot more flexible - often starting work early in the morning and finishing late at night. Shift work and split-shifts are common in restaurant-based roles and employees are often required to work evenings, weekends and public holidays. Working as a chef is a fast and energetic but offers alot of job satisfaction.
Baker
Butcher
Chef
Dietetic Technician
Food Manufacturer
Holiday representative
Hotel manager
Nutritionist
Sous Chef
Graduate trainee restaurant and catering managers tend to earn between £15,000 and £21,000 a year, rising to between £25,000 and £40,000 once established.
A degree in a hospitality-related subject is preferred, but employers will consider applications from other graduates with relevant experience. Some large employers offer graduate training schemes and many universities offer postgraduate qualifications in hospitality management, though employers tend to value work experience over formal education.
In the catering and hospitality sector, good time management and organisation skills are critical, and you will need to be energetic, especially if you are working in a kitchen. Graduates entering managerial roles will need excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong leadership skills and the ability to multi-task and work well as part of a team.
