Hospitality apprenticeships

The hospitality industry employs over 2.9 million people across a huge range of job roles - from hotel managers to pastry chefs.

In fact, the hospitality industry is one of the UK's biggest and fastest-growing employers. Each year, the industry employs around 900,000 new staff to replace those leaving the industry, so there are more opportunities than ever to progress.

There are many different types of hospitality apprenticeships available in catering, hotel management, beverages and customer service. Each one follows the same 'earn-while-you-learn' model as all other apprenticeships, and applicants gain a nationally recognised qualification when they've finished their course.

How do they work?

Apprentices will receive on-the-job training and earn while they learn. Each learner should be assigned a mentor who will guide their learning and help them choose the best steps to advance their hospitality career.

Some apprenticeships will be completed exclusively on the job with assessments carried out in the workplace. Others will include classroom learning either at a training centre or online.

How long do they take?

This can vary a lot depending on the type of apprenticeship, training provider, employer and hours worked per week. But typically, hospitality apprenticeships take between 1 -3 years to complete - or up to 4 years for a part-time course.

What apprenticeships are available

Level 2 Intermediate apprenticeships

Level 2 apprenticeships are equivalent to 5 GCSEs and are the first step for learners looking for a career in hospitality. There are many different roles to choose from, including:

• Silver service waiter
• Housekeeper
• Front of house receptionist
• Sous chef 

Level 3 Advanced apprenticeships

Level 3 apprenticeships are designed for people who want to work in - or are already working in - a position of supervision or leadership. These advanced apprenticeships really drill down into a specific area of the hospitality industry, and include roles like:

• Front of house manager
• Head waiter
• Head housekeeper
• Cellar management
• Kitchen supervisor

Higher level apprenticeships

These level 4 hospitality apprenticeships give learners the opportunity to progress to higher or regional management level. Qualifications include:

• Level 4 Diploma in Hospitality Management
• Level 4 Diploma in Catering Management

How to apply for an apprenticeship

Hospitality apprenticeships are everywhere. A huge number of bars, restaurants, hotels and catering businesses invest in apprenticeships to recruit and upskill their staff, so there are loads of opportunities available across the country. You can search for hospitality apprenticeships on the Find an Apprenticeship site, or get in touch with your local training provider.

How to manage hospitality apprenticeships

Keeping track of your apprentices can be a challenge - especially in a fast-paced hospitality environment. Using an eportfolio is the best way to track and manage your learners as you can monitor how they're getting on throughout their course. Eportfolios are great for learners too, as they can collect photos and videos of their skills in the workplace and upload them to their apprenticeship portfolio - saving them loads of time writing up notes.

To find out how eportfolios help hospitality apprentices complete their assessments - and employers manage their learners - download our benefits brochure.