Career Suggestion

Kitchen porter

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

Average salary (a year)

£17000.0 to £25000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

40.0 to 42.0 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

College

You may find it helpful to do a college course in a related subject like:

  • introduction to employment in the hospitality industry
  • general cookery
  • food safety

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Apprenticeship

You could get into this job by applying to do an apprenticeship, such as:

  • Catering and Hospitality Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
  • Commis Chef Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Food and Beverage Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship

Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship

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

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

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.

Further information

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

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to work well with others
  • customer service skills
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to organise your time and workload
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • physical fitness and endurance
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day-to-day tasks

As a kitchen porter you could:

  • provide support to chefs
  • 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 at a restaurant, in an NHS or private hospital or in a factory.

Your working environment may be noisy and hot.

You may need to wear a uniform.

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.

Related careers

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