Kitchen porter

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You may find it helps you to get work if you do a course like:

• Level 1 Award in Introduction to Employment in the Hospitality Industry
• Level 1 Certificate in General Cookery
• Level 2 Award in Food Safety

Entry requirements:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job by doing an intermediate apprenticeship to become a:

• comis chef
• hospitality team member

Entry requirements:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

DirectApplication

You can apply directly to employers for a job as a dish washer or general kitchen hand, then train while you're working.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• to enjoy working with other people
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• business management skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• active listening skills
• knowledge of maths
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• knowledge of public safety and security
• knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• leadership skills
• a desire to help people
• concentration skills
• physical fitness and endurance

What you'll do:

Kitchen porters or kitchen assistants prepare food, make sure chefs have everything they need and keep the kitchen clean.

In your day-to-day duties you could:

• support chefs in a specific work section
• wash, peel and prepare food items
• use a variety of kitchen equipment such as mixers, special knives and cutters
• unload deliveries
• organise the storeroom
• wash kitchen appliances, work surfaces, floors and walls

Location : You could work in a factory, at a restaurant or in an NHS or private hospital.
Environment : Your working environment may be noisy and hot.
Uniform : You may need to wear a uniform.

Salary:

Starter : £11,500
Experienced : £16,500

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

40 - 42 hours a week

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

Career Path:

With experience and further training, you could become a trainee or junior chef.

You could also progress into management or move into bar work or food service.