Jobs and Careers Summer 2023 - 110

RESTAURANTS
Caring for staff
The restaurant industry is currently
being impacted by staff shortages -
according to the Office for National
Statistics, the number of vacancies in the
hospitality sector hit 146,000 between
November 2022 and January 2023. With
so many opportunities, there's never
been a better time to consider a career in
catering. Businesses are offering packages
with perks, flexible hours to fit around
family or studying commitments, and the
opportunity for career progression.
Diplomas and courses - from catering
management to sommelier training -
will give you the skills and confidence to
enter the industry at a higher level, but
there are ample opportunities for those
with no qualifications to train on the job.
In fact, many people start at the bottom
and work their way up to managerial roles.
So whether your ambition is to run a
fast food outlet, cater for weddings, or
become a Michelin-starred chef in a
prestigious restaurant, this could be the
industry for you.
Restaurant manager
Responsible for giving your customers
satisfaction, ensuring all food served is to
a high standard and running a profitable
business, this job has many elements -
from managing staff to ensuring health
and safety is adhered to. You could be
working in a hotel, a small independent
restaurant or as part of a chain.
What skills and qualifications do I need?
A Level 3 in Hospitality Supervision and
Leadership or a Level 4 in Hospitality
A job in the catering industry
often means long, intense and
unsociable hours. Hospitality
Action offers assistance to
all who work, or have worked,
within hospitality in the UK.
Its free Advice Hub (0808
802 0282) helps employees
in hospitality tackle complex
issues such as addiction,
financial difficulties, relationship
breakdown, bereavement or
mental health problems.
Employers can sign up to its
Employee Assistance Programme
(EAP) for £5.95 per person. The
service offers confidential 24/7
support, 365 days of the year,
through its helpline (0808 802
2111). There's training available,
too - from on-site trauma
support to mental health
awareness and financial advice.
If you love discovering new flavours and creating
delicious dishes, this could be the industry for you
" Hospitality teams are filled
with fantastic people! "
Rachel Masing is People Director at ETM Group,
a collection of bars, pubs and restaurants
I joined ETM as Head of Recruitment & Retention.
I felt confident I was joining a solid, professional and ambitious business,
where I'd be embraced as an individual and given freedom to work my
way. I'm now People Director, and my role focuses on creating a positive
experience, from the moment a candidate interacts with us to when they move on to
their next opportunity. This means offering learning opportunities, development
and growth, memorable moments, and a nurturing and stable environment.
We offer every new starter training at our EPIC Foundation, which is a three-day
programme to ensure they feel confident from day one. We also provide training
at five levels, so everyone has an opportunity to keep growing.
It's tough to navigate my time between getting work done fast, which means
plenty of laptop time and meetings - and face-time in venues. It's important for
me to see the team, have conversations, get feedback and be a familiar face, so
people know they can rely on me to support them. I love the variety - running
training, cost analysis, developing the team and finding creative ways to
reward people. But the best part is being part of a business that allows
guests to create memories, eat delicious food, relax and drink - all alongside
the most fun colleagues. Hospitality teams are filled with fantastic people!
Leadership will be very helpful, but it's
also possible to learn on the job and work
your way up. Some large restaurants and
chains offer graduate training schemes,
and a degree in business or hospitality
management will be ideal. You'll need
good interpersonal skills and the ability
to motivate a team, and a flexible and
hands-on approach is vital. The hours
are long and often unsociable.
How much can I earn? A starting salary is
around £18,000, rising with experience.
Chef
Chefs prepare food and may also create
menus and control stock. With experience,
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Jobs and Careers Summer 2023

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