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Working Abroad Job Vacancies Job Hunting Guide Voluntary Work Working Part-time and Temping Useful Job Hunting Resources Working in Somerset Wages and Employment Rights Chefs in Somerset CLCI: IC CRCI: C Chefs are in charge of preparing and cooking food and meals for organisations such as hotels, restaurants, canteens, leisure centres, hospitals, nursing homes, fast food outlets and other places. Responsibilities vary according to the size of the kitchen. In a small place the chef may be in charge of everything. In a large establishment there could be a head chef leading a team of under chefs. There are opportunities to move between jobs and work in different places. To find out more look under the above CLCI/CRCI headings in your careers or Connexions library. THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CHEFS IN SOMERSET Catering and hospitality is an important industry in Somerset. Around 14000 people work in the county's hotels and restaurants. Chefs work in all sorts of places throughout Somerset. This can vary from a restaurant in the middle of town to a hotel deep in the countryside. Other opportunities exist in schools, colleges, hospitals, cafes, work canteens and care homes. There are often shortages of chefs in Somerset. This means that job prospects are usually good. HOW DO I GET STARTED?   Get work experience when at school to see if it’s the career for you   Go to college full-time to do an NVQ or BTEC hospitality and catering course   Start as a trainee – or Apprentice – in a kitchen and go to college as part of your job. USEFUL QUALIFICATIONS   GCSEs in maths, english, science and food subjects can be useful   City and Guilds and NVQ hospitality and catering qualifications (at college or through an apprenticeship)   Catering courses at college   Food hygiene; health and safety certificates More about qualifications, college and training can be found in Moving On (published by Connexions Somerset) DO YOU KNOW? Several Somerset chefs have progressed to TV and media work and become household names WHAT IS THE PAY LIKE? Around £80 per week (maybe more) if starting as a new employed trainee or apprentice. This can quickly rise to over £100 a week (and around £150 when you are 18). Beyond this wages vary depending on where you work. Tips can be good. FINDING A JOB   Connexions centres   Job centres   Through applying for work apprenticeships   School and college careers notice boards   Speculative letters/visits/emails   Newspaper and industry publications adverts   Adverts displayed at premises and on industry/company websites   Job offer after work experience   Word of mouth   A Guide to Job Hunting gives tips on CVs, interviews and job letters. To view click here OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ABOUT THIS WORK   You need to be healthy, fit, and enthusiastic.   Teamwork skills are very important.   There is the chance to be creative when working with healthy eating, organic food, "traditional fayre" and other eating options   Good promotion prospects for the right person in the right place   Hours can be irregular and awkward (sometimes with split shifts)   It’s often a young environment with lots of people under 25   Even balance between males and females.   You could work in a large kitchen with dozens of other people. Or you could be in a small place where everyone mucks in. WHO DOES THE WORK? Stuart (17) is an apprentice chef in the kitchen of a busy restaurant in Wells. As part of his training he goes to college once a week for a NVQ catering course. When he has more experience Stuart plans to travel and work abroad as a chef before later coming home to become a head chef Janie (19) worked in a pub restaurant near Cheddar when she left school. She got a buzz from this and soon found a new job in a fast food operation where she quickly got promoted. She’s in charge of several people but is also learning cooking by going to college one day a week. One day she hopes to run her own takeaway business More Info: A-Z careers Careers information dates rapidly. Every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate but please check details before making firm decisions. Make text larger Make text smaller Text Only Display Privacy Policy/Terms of Use