If you are looking to take on a junior chef, an apprentice could be perfect.
We will provide all the training they need on a day release basis and support them while they are in the workplace.
Key information
Key information about this apprenticeship programme, with the main details like the level, duration and industry/sector. Full details about this standard can be found on the Skills England website.
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Level: 2 (Intermediate)
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Duration: 15 months
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Training location: City Hub
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Mode of Attendance: Day release
- Industry/sector: Catering and hospitality
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Maximum funding available: £9,000.00
Apprenticeship overview
Preparing food and basic cooking tasks in a kitchen under supervision.
The key skills, knowledge, behaviours and duties that will be carried out by the apprentice as part of this apprenticeship.
Skills developed
- Selects correct knife for task.
- Uses knives effectively and efficiently.
- Selects ingredients of the right quality that support sustainability and seasonality.
- Weighs, measures, and scales ingredients.
- Cooks from fresh producing complete dishes.
- Prepares, cooks, and finishes meat, offal, game, poultry, fish, and shellfish from whole; trim, de-vein, portion, break down, bone, skin, fillet, shell.
- Prepares, cooks, and finishes fruit vegetables.
- Prepares, cooks, and finishes sauces.
- Prepares, cooks and finishes pureed and cream soup and stock based dishes.
- Prepares and cooks noodles, and fresh or convenience pasta.
- Prepares and cooks pulses and grains, including long and short grain rice.
- Prepares, cooks and finishes eggs or egg based dishes.
- Prepares, cooks and finishes leavened and unleavened dough products.
- Prepares, cooks and finishes sweet and savoury pastry products using short, sweet, and choux.
- Prepares, cooks, and finishes scones, biscuits, sponge cakes, and non-sponge cakes.
- Prepares, produces, and finishes hot and cold desserts.
- Stuffs, fills and panés across food types.
- Prepares and cooks dishes using alternative ingredients eg plant based, gluten free.
- Prepares fresh ingredients, including from whole, using them across a menu to reduce waste and improve sustainability
- Uses seasoning, spices, rubs, and marinades to flavour ingredients.
- Sears, grills, deep fries, shallow fries, stir fries, sautés, braises, stews, bakes, roasts, boils, poaches across food types.
- Portions, plates, finishes, garnishes, and presents individual dishes.
- Exercises portion control and acts to maximise yield.
- Achieves intended quality in terms of texture, flavour, and appearance
- Identifies and resolves errors during the production process.
- Assists in the resolution of feedback, complaints, and issues.
- Prepares, cleans and uses manual and electrical food-preparation and cooking equipment and machinery safely, correctly and efficiently.
- Applies food safety and allergen procedures, including monitoring temperatures, during preparation, cooking, and holding.
- Selects and applies hygiene management techniques to maintain a safe clean work environment, including personal hygiene, PPE, and uniform.
- Complies with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
- Undertakes stock control, storage, and rotation.
- Applies food safety and allergen procedures, and monitors and records food temperatures, on delivery and in storage.
- Follows equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and organisational policies.
- Uses techniques for maintaining good mental health and wellbeing to support self and others, including asking for and giving help with daily tasks.
- Communicates with colleagues, manager and other stakeholders in a professional manner.
- Works as part of a team to support service delivery.
- Uses feedback to improve own performance.
- Manages own time to ensure tasks are completed.
Further information
- Chef
- Commis chef
- Junior culinary chef
- Professional chef
This occupation is found in the hospitality industry , largely in luxury, fine dining and gastro venue, for example, restaurants, hotels, inns, conference and events venues, pubs, cruise ship including independent and branded establishments.
The broad purpose of this occupation is to support the kitchen to provide a refined culinary offer. Commis chefs typically work in a brigade, large or small, to prepare, cook, and finish a wide range of food items from fresh across all sections in a kitchen.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a team, sometimes known as a brigade, of chefs, the wider team, including front of house staff, and suppliers and customers. A commis chef is typically directly managed by a Chef de Partie, a Sous chef, or a Head Chef, or, in some cases, directly by a Chef Patron or Executive Chef.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for preparing and cooking food items from fresh, and finishing refined dishes. Commis Chefs will follow directions from a senior chef to ensure that dishes are produced to order and time. They are responsible for implementing hygiene, health and safety, and food safety legislation and local procedures, including allergen handling. They are responsible for stock control, following business practice for stock rotation and use, and for maintaining food safety throughout receipt, storage, production, holding, and further storage and reuse of cooked items. They are responsible for the safe and efficient handling and use of a range of specialist kitchen knives, manual tools and electric equipment.
Hire an apprentice today!
Are you interested in this apprenticeship for your business or company? Get in touch with our dedicated Business Development Manager for this industry/sector to find out more. Alternatively, you can fill out our employer interest form below and we'll get back to you.
Hannah Rogers
Business Development Advisor Science, Creative & Professional
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Information provided for this apprenticeship programme is sourced from the Skills England formerly the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE). For the information authored by Skills England, this was last modified on 3rd June 2025.
