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Kitchen porter

kitchen assistant team member
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Hospitality, catering and tourism
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Career outlook for kitchen porter

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£11,500

Experienced

£16,500

Currently employed in Scotland

41,600

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

You would help a chef to prepare meals so customers in a cafe or restaurant can enjoy their food. You’d keep the kitchen clean and safe.

You’d need to make sure that the chefs have everything they need. Kitchens are busy so you’d need to work quickly and competently, sometimes doing several things at once.

Kitchens are often divided into sections. For example, vegetables could be prepared in one area, and meat and fish in another area. As an assistant, you would often support the chef in a specific work section.

You would:

  • Prepare basic food
  • Wash, peel or skin, and chop vegetables and fruit, meat and fish ready for cooking
  • Unload deliveries from suppliers
  • Organise the storeroom
  • Wash kitchen appliances, pots, pans, work surfaces, floors and walls

You’d use a variety of kitchen equipment such as automatic mixers, chipping machines and special knives and cutters. You’d be responsible for keeping the kitchen clean. So you’d need to follow strict health and safety, and hygiene rules.

Working conditions

Hours

Your hours of work can vary, but will usually include shifts, evenings, weekends and public holidays. If you work for a catering company and you are based at a factory or business, your hours are likely to be more regular than in a restaurant. Part-time, casual or seasonal work may be available.

Environment

Your working environment will often be hot, busy and noisy. You may find this work unsuitable if you suffer from certain skin conditions. You will usually be provided with a uniform.

UK employment status

Full-time

30%

Part-time

67%

Self employed

3%

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  • Positive attitude
  • Resilience
  • Building relationships
  • Cooperating
  • Supporting
  • Verbal communication
  • Empathising
  • Social conscience
  • Reliable

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Getting in

Entry requirements for courses can change. Always contact the college, university or training provider to check exactly what you'll need.

Qualifications

You do not need formal qualifications for this job but a good general education is useful.

Training is mainly on the job. Once in a job you may be able to work towards relevant qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Kitchen Services (SVQ level 2).

You will also need

Depending on where you work you may need to pass a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check for some jobs.

Helpful to have

  • Skills for Work Food and Drink (SCQF level 5)
  • Skills for Work Hospitality (SCQF level 4/5)