A catering manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, or event venues. The role involves managing staff, planning menus, ensuring food safety and quality, controlling budgets, and liaising with clients to deliver excellent service. Catering managers need strong organisational and communication skills, and must be able to handle busy environments and tight deadlines. They often supervise teams of chefs, kitchen assistants, and servers, making sure that every event or daily service runs smoothly. This is a rewarding career for people who enjoy both food and leadership, and it offers opportunities for advancement within the hospitality industry.
Catering managers in the UK typically earn between £22,000 and £45,000 per year, depending on experience and location.
There are over 10,000 catering manager positions across the UK, with strong demand in hotels, schools, and contract catering.
Most catering managers work around 40 hours per week, often including evenings and weekends.
Responsible for overseeing catering operations within a school, planning menus, managing staff, and ensuring food safety standards are met.
Organises and manages catering services for events such as weddings, conferences, and parties, working closely with clients to meet their requirements.
Manages the catering services in a hospital, ensuring meals meet dietary needs of patients and comply with health and safety regulations.
Obtain GCSEs, including English and Maths, as a foundation for further training.
Most catering manager roles require at least a good set of GCSEs. English and Maths are particularly important as they help with communication and budgeting. Consider choosing Food Technology if available, as it provides early insights into the industry.
Study for a relevant qualification, such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Hospitality or Catering, or an NVQ in Hospitality Supervision.
Colleges and training providers offer a range of courses in hospitality and catering. These courses provide practical skills and knowledge about food safety, customer service, and kitchen operations, all of which are vital for a manager.
Progress to a foundation degree, HND, or apprenticeship in hospitality management for advanced knowledge.
For those seeking faster career progression, higher education courses in hospitality management or catering can give you an edge. Alternatively, apprenticeships let you earn while you learn practical skills on the job.
Start as a catering assistant, kitchen porter, or in a similar junior position to gain hands-on experience.
Working in a real food service environment helps you understand the day-to-day challenges and skills needed. You will learn about food preparation, hygiene, teamwork, and customer service, all of which are essential for management later on.
Progress to supervisory roles such as team leader or shift supervisor within the catering or hospitality sector.
Supervisory experience is highly valued and can involve overseeing small teams, handling customer complaints, and ensuring high standards. These roles help you build leadership and problem-solving skills, both crucial for a manager.
Look for job openings for Catering Manager roles in hotels, schools, hospitals, or event companies.
When ready, you can apply for Catering Manager jobs. Employers will look for a mix of qualifications, experience, and leadership skills. Make sure your CV highlights your relevant achievements and supervisory experience.
Take additional courses in food safety, event management, or leadership to stay up to date.
The hospitality industry evolves quickly, so ongoing training is important. Many organisations offer short courses or workshops in specialist areas like food hygiene, allergen management, or digital booking systems.
Explore relevant apprenticeships that can help you kickstart your career in Catering Manager. Apprenticeships offer hands-on experience and training while earning a wage.
The most closely matching career is 'Restaurant manager' because both roles involve overseeing foodservice operations, managing staff, coordinating daily activities, and ensuring customer satisfaction within a hospitality environment. They require similar skills in team leadership, event planning, and operational management related to food and beverage services.
You can get into this job through:
You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree.
Useful subjects include:
You'll usually need:
You could take professional catering qualifications at college then move into management. You could also do a qualification in hospitality management and find work as a trainee catering manager.
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
You could do a Hospitality Manager Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship, if you've got experience in catering and have also worked as a supervisor.
You could also do a Hospitality Supervisor Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship and then progress to become a hospitality and catering manager.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a kitchen assistant or trainee 'commis' chef and work your way up while learning on the job. You could apply for work with restaurants, bars or catering companies.
You can find out more about catering careers from Caterer.com and CareerScope.
Explore other careers or use our AI to discover personalised paths based on your interests.
Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK
Phone
01603 273515
Email
[email protected]
Copyright 2025 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.
Unlock expert-designed lessons, resources, and assessments tailored for educators. No credit card required.
Claim Your Free Trial →
