Catering careers

[Ratatouille1]

My son really disliked school, managed to pass his GSCEs and got an apprenticeship which didn't work out , he went to sixth form for a short while but again that wasn't for him . He has a college place for September is working in a cafe bar. He loves it and is finally doing well. He told me he know wants to be a chef. I hear so many bad things about working in catering, low pay, long unsociable hours. It is also entirely his choice and I want him to be happy. Any suggestions towards making a career in hospitality sustainable and well paid?

Anyone?.

Bump again!

Get a part time job in a catering establishment
Apply to catering college and get a proper qualification
Be prepared to work hard, but there are good well paid jobs around. Not likely to be massively well paid, but enough for a nice life

Good luck,

Thank you. I think that is the path he is looking at. He loves his part time job and is learning new skills and is getting great feedback ( after his previous education experiences this is refreshing). I was wondering which would be a better route. Go to catering college in September and keep working part time or find a full time chef apprenticeship. I was thinking college and part time work as I want him to learn a wide variety of skills and techniques than just working in one restaurant. The catering college near us does have a very good reputation.

Definitely a college course. He needs to know all the theory, and be thought all the techniques.
Pert time job will be the apprenticeship

There are pros and cons for all options. See if any of your local colleges offer a T level in catering. Part college based and part workplace based. The apprenticeship is also a good option if he’s already working as he will be used to getting paid unless he’s happy to keep his job part time while he completes the college course.

All your concerns about catering are valid (voice of experience) but if that’s the only thing he’s passionate about then it is what it is 🤷🏻‍♀️ There are other ways to avoid the antisocial hours, work in cafes that open in daytime hours or he could look to starting his own business in the future.

I think there would be plenty of time to fit his part time job around the college course. It's says it's full time but in reality it is only 2.5 days a week. I don't think his current job could give him enough hours for an apprenticeship and although it is a very nice cafe it's many posh sandwiches, soups , cakes etc. Good idea about the T level will take a look.