Placement Overview
This VIP is the Head Chef at London's Fifteen Restaurant. The purpose of Fifteen is to inspire disadvantaged young people to believe that they can create for themselves a career in the restaurant business. Famously started by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver for the Channel 4 series 'Jamie’s Kitchen' Fifteen has had 37 young people graduate and many of them are now working full time in some of the world's best restaurants.
Generic Job Description for a Chef
Chefs work in the kitchens of restaurants, hotels and in outside catering. They are responsible for preparing and cooking food ordered by the general public.
Chefs and Head Chefs are often in charge of a team of cooks and kitchen staff who help them in the preparation and serving of the food. Their responsibilities include; managing kitchen staff, supervising the preparation of food, creating menus and dishes, sourcing and ordering ingredients, managing stock levels, managing restaurant budgets.
Skills:
- The ability to work well as part of a team
- The ability to work well under pressure
- Creativity
- Good organisation skills
- An thorough understanding of health and safety issues
- Management and delegating skills
Pay:
- Entry £8,000 whilst training
- £10,000 - £20,000 with experience or working in a managerial position
- £30,000 or more for Head Chefs
Please not that salary figures are a guide only. Actual salaries may vary depending on the organisation and geographical location
Hours:
- Evening and weekend work is common
- Usually shift patterns
Environment:
- Typically spent in a kitchen
- Working environment can be hot, noisy and stressful
- Kitchens present many health and safety hazards that Chefs need to be aware of
Qualifications:
- No set entry requirements
- Qualifications available at all levels
- Experience in the industry is preferred
- Apprenticeships are widely available
Training:
- Training is mainly on-the-job
- Some employers allow people to take NVQ qualifications whilst working
- Specialist courses are available for skills development and specialist areas of food preparation
Opportunities:
- Around 500,000 people work in the restaurant industry in the UK
- There are around 30,000 vacancies for Chefs each year in Britain
- Opportunities exist in restaurants, schools, hotels, companies and the armed forces
Links:
www.springboarduk.org.uk - Springboard UK Limited
www.people1st.co.uk - People 1st – Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism
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