A good catering assistant will be comfortable working alongside other team members and be able to carry out instructions accurately. Much of the work is in food preparation and gives a good opportunity to learn the catering trade from experienced practitioners, an important stepping stone to becoming a more senior staff member. Catering assistants are most likely to be employed in the kitchens of large organisations such as major companies, big schools or government offices.
The job will probably involve unsocial hours or shift work, with regular tasks such as basic food preparation and assisting chefs in presenting the cooked food. Good listening skills and the ability to work under pressure are important. At entry-level, standard requirements are a knowledge of the health and safety aspects of a commercial kitchen, a food hygiene certificate and possible attendance at a vocational college or previous experience
Average salaries starts at £12,000, and are often paid on an hourly basis of £7.00, slightly above the minimum wage, with the potential of pay rises to around £15,000.