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Kitchen assistant

Alternative titles for this job include Kitchen hand, kitchen attendant, kitchen porter

Kitchen porters clean, wash up and prepare food to keep hotel, restaurant and hospital kitchens running smoothly.

Average salary (a year)

£13,000 Starter

to

£18,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

40 to 42 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

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How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a kitchen assistant

You can get into this job through:

  • college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

There are no set requirements, but it might help if you take a college course in cookery or hospitality, such as:

  • Level 1 Award in Introduction to Employment in the Hospitality Industry
  • Level 1 Certificate in General Cookery
  • Level 1 Certificate in General Food and Beverage Service
  • a basic food hygiene certificate like Level 2 Food Safety

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

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

More Information

Apprenticeship

You could do a hospitality team member intermediate apprenticeship.

This typically takes 12 months to complete as a mix of workplace learning and off-the-job study.

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 for jobs. There are no set requirements, though some employers may ask for GCSEs at grades 9 to 2 (A* to E) in English and maths.

Experience of working in a kitchen would be useful but is not essential.

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about working as a kitchen porter from the Hospitality Guild and CareerScope.

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
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work on your own
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • 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

On a typical day you could:

  • unload deliveries
  • organise the storeroom
  • collect and wash pots, pans, plates and cutlery
  • get pots, pans plates and cutlery back into use quickly
  • wash and disinfect kitchen appliances, work surfaces, floors and walls
  • make sure kitchen equipment is properly stored
  • remove and recycle waste from the kitchen
  • help prepare and serve hot and cold meals

Working environment

You could work at a restaurant, in a hotel, in a pub or bar, at a school or in an NHS or private hospital.

Your working environment may be hot and humid.

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 training you could move into supervisory positions or work towards becoming a chef.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Hospitality Apprentice - Front of House

  • Wage: £117.00 Weekly
  • Location: Chorley

Bar and Waiting Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £138.60 - £267.30 Weekly
  • Location:
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Food Safety In Catering

  • Provider: North Tyneside Adult Learning Service
  • Start date: 10 May 2022
  • Location: WALLSEND

Food Safety in Catering

  • Provider: CHICHESTER COLLEGE GROUP
  • Start date: 25 January 2022
  • Location: Crawley
Find courses near you

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