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Catering and hospitality

Catering
Jobs in this industry might include creating, preparing or serving food, making sure that accommodation, such as hotel rooms or conference suites, is ready for the next guests, greeting people at a reception desk or running your own bar. 
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MyChoiceNotts

Are you interested in getting a qualification in this area? Look for a course at local sixth forms and FE colleges on My Choice Notts(Nottinghamshire and just over the border). For higher education courses go to UCAS

 

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Vacancies Online

Search for local job vacancies and Apprenticeship opportunities in the sector you're interested in.

 

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Find out more about the Diploma in Hospitality course.
Catring staff

There are many places you could work if you had a job in the hospitality industry. Think about the places where people need to be entertained, looked after or where they stay when they’re away from home.... guest houses, pubs and bars, leisure clubs, schools, hospitals, factories, hotels, planes .… shall I go on?

You might be creating, preparing or serving food, making sure that accommodation, such as hotel rooms or conference suites, is ready for the next guests, greeting people at a reception desk or running your own bar.

You need to be hard-working and reliable, have good people skills and will often work unsociable hours. People who work in the hospitality industry are usually working when other people are enjoying their leisure time!

How can you get into this type of work? 

Your Personal Adviser will be able to discuss your options with you.

  • School or college - study for GCSEs, AS / A levels, a diploma, NVQs or other vocational qualifications that could lead to a job, an Apprenticeship, further qualifications or even a degree.

  • e2e (Entry to Employment) - if you’re not sure if you’re suited to this job you might be able to get some work experience through e2e. It can also give you extra support to gain the right qualifications, get onto a training programme or get a job.

  • Apprenticeship - train ‘on-the-job’ with a wage or allowance. For the latest Apprenticeship vacancies in Nottinghamshire go to Vacancies Online.

  • Work or work with training

What else can I do?

 

As well as qualifications, employers also look for the skills
people have when they’re applying for jobs. Here are the
skills that most employers are looking for from you:

  • Team work

  • Customer service

  • Communication

 

Skills

Four one pound pieces

Wages will vary depending on where in the country you work and between different organisations.

Job Title Average weekly salary * Average annual salary
Bar or pub manager £382.40 £19,865

Kitchen and catering assistant

£138.30

£7,192

Chefs and cooks

£264.40

£13,749

Conference manager

£530.20

£27,569

Hotel manager

£459.70

£23,903

Hotel porter

£260.30

£13,536

Waiters and waitresses

£119.60

£6,218

Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, ONS 2009

*Based on gross pay (before you have anything deducted) and not including overtime or tips.

Note: this doesn't include self-employed

What’s happening in this industry?

The hospitality industry is one of the biggest growth areas in the UK. Customer demands affect trends, for example, budget hotels and pubs offering cheaper food have grown while boutique hotels and gastropubs cater for a very different type of customer. The fast food industry in particular is growing which means there are more jobs preparing and serving fast food than there are in expensive restaurants. Due to the ban on smoking in all pubs and restaurants, some pubs have closed and other pubs now offer better food; the ban could also see a rise in coffee-shop culture. 

From August 2010  trainees will be able to able to take qualifications in Indian, Bangladeshi, Chinese and Thai cuisines, including units on dim sum, noodles, spices and herbs, and using a tandoor.  These new qualifications reflect the diverse nature of the UK's restaurant market and have been developed  with employers in the Asian and Oriental food industry.  Other ethnic food sectors will be added in the future. 

Like all sectors, advances in technology is affecting the hospitality industry. For example, customers can reserve rooms and tables over the Internet for many hotels and restaurants and this can have an impact on staffing. Technology is also making conferences and events facilities more attractive to business, offering customers better choices.

There’s a high turnover of staff within hotels and catering which means that as people leave their jobs, they need to be replaced with skilled workers quickly; but there aren't enough people to fill those jobs. Most vacancies are for chefs and cooks, bar staff, waiting staff and catering assistants. Skilled hotel managers and restaurant and bar managers with the right qualifications are also needed. The skills employers are looking for most include customer care, communication, ICT and basic skills. 

See the 'Notts Info' section for what's happening locally.

hotel room

The hotels and catering industry is one of the biggest employment sectors in Nottinghamshire and it employs nearly 27,000 people (1). Bars and restaurants make up around 73% of jobs (2), nearly two thirds of workers in this industry are female and nearly two thirds work part time (3). There are many young people under the age of 25 working in this area—a lot of them are students and there are good opportunities for young people to progress to management level. 

There are top restaurants and hotels in Nottingham (World Service, Salt Water, Restaurant Sat Bains and Harts are examples),West Bridgford, Sherwood, Mapperley, Arnold and Beeston.  There are well known restaurants in Newark (Cafe Bleu), Tuxford (Mussel and Crab) and Plumtree (Perkins) and other areas. 

Nottingham, Newark and Retford ,also attract tourists.   There are opportunities to work at visitor attractions (Nottingham Castle, White Post Farm Park), accommodation and events.   Hotels have many opportunities - including food preparation, waiting, bar work, reception, cleaning and management. 

In Newark and Sherwood the percentage of jobs in hotels and restaurants is higher than the rest of the county.  In Edwinstowe tourism is mainly associated with Robin Hood  and there are temporary and seasonal jobs connected to this.  Many hotels host conferences, parties or weddings and often use agencies (Right4Staff, Blue Arrow or Adecco UK ) to recruit part time staff. Jobs are generally advertised on websites and in the local press. 

There are also hospitality and catering opportunities at sporting venues.  Larger shops, leisure centres  and garden centres often have cafes or restaurants. 

Number of people employed in the catering and hospitality industry in Nottinghamshire

 

Area of Nottinghamshire

Number of workers*

Ashfield

1,808

Bassetlaw

2,368

Broxtowe

2,146

Gedling

1,854

Mansfield

2,271

Newark and Sherwood

4,689

Nottingham

9,389

Rushcliffe

2,344

Total

26,868

*These figures don’t include self-employed or casual workers.

 Key employers in this sector: 

Ashfield

Dakota Hotel

East Midlands Designer Outlet 

Bassetlaw

Clumber Park Hotel

Best Western Lion Hotel

West Retford Hotel

Broxtowe

Eastwood Hall

The Belfry Hotel

The Gateway Hotel

Gedling

Newstead Abbey 

Mansfield

Town Centre Shops (Debenhams, Westgate) with cafes

Newark and Sherwood

 Center Parcs

Thoresby Hall Hotel and Spa

Eden Hall

Saracens Head –Southwell

Sherwood Forest and Rufford Country Parks

White Post Farm Park

Wheelgate 

Nottingham City

Larger Hotels - Hilton, Marriott, Jury’s Inn, Holiday Inn, Express Holiday Inn, Crown Plaza, Park Plaza, Ibis, Travel Lodge.

Outside the City -  Premier Inns, Village Hotel

Shops and Cafes City Centre 

Rushcliffe

National Watersports Centre

Trent Bridge Cricket Ground

Premier Travel Inn

As of January, 2010. This list is just a guide – there are many more catering and hospitality employers.

(1), (2) and (3) Annual Business Inquiry, 2009

 

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