Catering manager
Catering managers run the food service of organisations including restaurants, bars, schools, colleges and outside suppliers.
Also known as: Food service manager
- Starter salary£20,000 a year
- Experienced£34,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 41 a week
What you'll do
As a catering manager, you may:
- recruit and train staff
- manage a team, and organise shifts and rotas
- plan finances, manage budgets and oversee stock control
- meet suppliers and negotiate contracts
- monitor the quality of the service to customers
- follow food hygiene and health and safety regulations
- cater for special diets and meet cultural and nutritional needs
Working environment
You could work at a restaurant, at a school, in an NHS or private hospital, in a hotel or at a conference centre.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- leadership skills
- the ability to motivate and manage staff
- excellent verbal communication skills
- customer service skills
- business management skills
- knowledge of food production methods
- maths knowledge
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a catering manager
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
University
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree.
Useful subjects include:
- business and hospitality management
- culinary arts or culinary management
- hotel and catering management
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
College
You could take professional catering qualifications at college then move into management. You could also do a qualification in hospitality management and find work as a trainee catering manager.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Apprenticeship
You could do a Hospitality Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, if you've got experience in catering and have also worked as a supervisor.
You could also do a Hospitality Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship and then progress to become a hospitality and catering manager.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a kitchen assistant or trainee 'commis' chef and work your way up while learning on the job. You could apply for work with restaurants, bars or catering companies.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- get a food hygiene certificate by completing a short course at a college, a training centre or through your local council
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
With experience you could:
- move into larger organisations or event catering
- study for further qualifications to move into other hospitality roles
- start your own contract catering business
Guides for this industry
Related roles
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