1. Home: Explore careers
  2. Street food trader

Street food trader

Alternative titles for this job include Mobile caterer

Street food traders run their own businesses, serving customers food and drinks from a stall or van.

Average salary (a year)

Variable

Typical hours (a week)

41 to 43 variable

You could work

in your own business managing your own hours

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become Street food trader

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role

Apprenticeship

You can prepare for this job by doing a senior production chef advanced apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

Work

It's common to get experience working in a cafe, pub, restaurant or hotel kitchen first and then set up your own street food business.

More Information

Registration

  • you'll need to register with your local Environmental Health Department before you start trading

Career tips

Experience in catering or customer service will be useful.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a street food trader from the Nationwide Caterers Association.

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
  • maths skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to sell products and services
  • knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You'll need a Street Trading Licence unless you operate only at events on private land.

The Nationwide Caterers Association has information about setting up and offers advice about driving licences and regulations for towing catering vehicles.

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 tasks you may:

  • stock up on food ingredients and drinks
  • drive your mobile unit to a venue and setting up
  • check the temperature of fridges and food
  • handle raw food safely
  • prepare and cook food to a high standard
  • serve customers and build up repeat business
  • wash up and keep your work area clean, tidy and safe
  • keep track of finances and promote your business

Working environment

You could work on festival sites, on the streets or on a market stall.

Your working environment may be physically demanding and outdoors some of the time.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could build up and manage a number of pitches.

You could base your business in permanent or larger premises and employ staff.

Extra training in cooking and cuisine could help you to improve or widen the range of products you offer.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Production chef apprenticeship Level 3-Rockpool Café

  • Wage: £11,980.80 a year Annually
  • Location: Bideford

Kitchen Team Leader Apprenticeship

  • Wage: £13,416 a year Annually
  • Location: , ,
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

T Level in Catering

  • Provider: THE PRIORY CITY OF LINCOLN ACADEMY
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Lincoln

T Level in Catering

  • Provider: SOUTH HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE GROUP
  • Start date: 01 September 2025
  • Location: Fareham
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Search further careers

Related careers

Skills assessment

Take an assessment to learn more about your skills and the careers that might suit you.

Speak to an adviser

You can call 0800 100 900 or use webchat to speak to an adviser.

We're open:

  • 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday
  • 10am to 5pm Saturdays and bank holidays

We're closed on Sundays, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Is this page useful?

Yes No

Thank you for your feedback.

Thank you for your feedback. Click here if you'd like to let us know how we can improve the service.