“Apprenticeships are a great way to earn and learn”, writes Sam Coulstock FIH, IoH’s Head of Professional Development and a guest writer for Caterer.com. “You get paid and achieve world-class training and qualifications at the same time. It’s the best of both worlds and a great way to upskill and progress your career” he explained.
So, what do you need to know and how can you get started?
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a job with training, and anyone aged 16 or older can do one. You work alongside knowledgeable people and gain job-specific qualifications. During your apprenticeship, your employer will give you jobs to do, and a training provider will help you with the theory behind how to perform those tasks. Earning while you’re learning
All apprenticeships mean you earn while you learn, like any other job, so you can gain an industry-specific qualification without needing a student loan. You are employed full-time (usually between 30-40 hours per week), including the time spent with your training provider.
A training provider is an organisation who suppliers the training element of an apprenticeship. They are generally a separate organisation from the employer, although larger employers sometimes also act as providers.
20% of your working week will be classed as ‘off the job training’ and this includes classroom training, role play, coaching and mentoring, simulation exercises, online learning, work shadowing, industry visits, self-study, and assignment completion.
Different apprenticeships are available all over the UK, in a wide range of industries and organisations including five-star hotels, restaurants, pubs, cafes and bars. Almost anywhere you find food and drink, you can find an apprenticeship in hospitality.
How much you earn often depends on your age and the employer you work for. As a guide, if you are under 19, you must be paid at least the Minimum Apprenticeship Wage of £4.30 an hour, however many employers pay more than this, and the average weekly wage is £200.
If you are 19 when you complete the first year of your apprenticeship, you must be paid the full National Minimum Wage. This is a minimum, and many employers do pay more.
As an apprentice, you are employed and have a contract of employment. You are counted as a regular employee and get all the benefits, such as holiday and sick leave. You can find out more about salary rates here.
What types of apprenticeships are there?
Most people start a hospitality apprenticeship at Level 2, which takes one year to complete and is typically the starting point for someone entering the sector. You would agree on the level of your apprenticeship with your employer and training provider before you start.
However, there are different levels of apprenticeships. So, the length of your course will depend on your existing experience, qualifications, and your choice of job role.
The different levels of apprenticeships mean that you can enter at a level that is right for you. As your career progresses you can choose to move onto the next level of your apprenticeship. These are:
Your employer and training provider will also consider your previous work experience, enthusiasm, and talent for the role. It is best to share all your experience and qualifications when applying for an apprenticeship.
Hospitality industry apprenticeships
In the hospitality industry, the apprenticeships offered are known as ‘Standards’ – which means employers can specify what is required from an apprentice in their role. This means that you and your employer are working in partnership to achieve your apprenticeship goals.
Hospitality Apprenticeship Standards outline the skills, knowledge, and behaviours (KSBs) required to carry out a particular job role.
The different types of hospitality apprenticeship
There are three main areas of study for a hospitality apprenticeship.
Once you have completed your apprenticeship, you can move up the ladder to a chef de partie or a senior production chef where you can develop your skills, have more responsibility in managing the kitchen and start to supervise others.
You can find out more about catering and hospitality standards here
Hospitality
This is everything outside of the kitchen and is customer-facing. Most people start as a team member and work in one of the specialist areas: Food & Beverage Service, Food Production, Barista, Concierge & Guest Services, Housekeeping, Reception, Reservations, Conference & Event Operations.
Once you have completed your team member level, you can move up to be a supervisor and then a manager, whilst completing an apprenticeship at the same time. Many leaders in hospitality started their careers as an apprentice and are now in management roles.
You can find out more about catering and hospitality standards here
Business
These are mainly the roles customers don’t see and include all the functions that happen behind the doors that say, “staff only”. There are excellent opportunities for an apprenticeship in Financial Services or as a Business Administrator. Progression is open to you throughout your apprenticeship as your career grows and develops. You can find out more about business administration apprenticeships here
Should I do an apprenticeship or go to university?
The big question for young people is, “Should I go to uni or get an apprenticeship?”
University offers a depth of knowledge with transferable skills, whilst an apprenticeship provides real-life work experience from day one. The choice is about what you feel most comfortable with and where you and your family feel you are best suited.
Talk to people around you, find someone who is currently an apprentice or at Uni and find out from them what it is like. Some people love the academic learning style, and some people love the more practical type of learning. But most of all, make a choice that you feel happy with.
Some things to consider…
Apprenticeships
The length of your apprenticeship depends on the level you decide to do, so it will be from 1 – 5 years, usually with a local training provider
University
Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
This guidance has been created to give you some helpful information for you to make an informed choice on your next steps after education. And whatever you choose to do, be the best at it and aim for the stars! Find the best path for you, one that you feel happy and confident with, talk to as many people as you can about the options and then make your choice.
Further information on apprenticeships and higher and degree apprenticeships can be found at Gov.uk.
Careers & Apprenticeships in Hospitality – A Guide by HIT Training
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