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Kitchen porter

Alternative titles for this job include Kitchen assistant

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

Average salary (a year)

£11,500 Starter

to

£16,500 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Kitchen porter

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

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

You may need:

  • 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

More Information

Apprenticeship

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

  • comis chef
  • hospitality team member

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

More Information

Direct Application

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

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a kitchen porter from Caterer.com.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • 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
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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

Working environment

You could work in a factory, at a restaurant or in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be noisy and hot.

You may need to wear a uniform.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Commis Chef

  • Wage: £13,312 to £23,795.20 a year Annually
  • Location: Wrenbury Road, Marbury

Apprentice Chef

  • Wage: £16,640 a year Annually
  • Location: MARNHULL, STURMINSTER NEWTON, DORSET
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

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