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Catering is a fast paced part of the hospitality industry. It requires practical food skills, strong organisation, good communication and the ability to work well under pressure. Whether you are working in event catering, contract catering, care homes, schools, hotels, restaurants or hospitality venues, employers look for reliable people who can support smooth food service.
The main skills needed for catering include food preparation, food hygiene, teamwork, customer service, time management and attention to detail. Catering staff need to be able to follow instructions, work quickly, stay organised and support the wider team during busy service periods.
Food preparation is one of the most important skills in catering. Depending on the role, this may involve preparing ingredients, supporting chefs, plating food or helping with service.
Useful food preparation skills include:
● Basic cooking knowledge ● Following recipes ● Portion control ● Food presentation ● Understanding ingredients
For chef roles, employers usually expect stronger technical skills. For catering assistant roles, reliability, care and a willingness to learn are often just as important.
Food safety is essential in every catering environment. Staff must understand how to prepare, store and serve food safely.
This includes:
● Safe food handling ● Clean work areas ● Allergen awareness ● Correct food storage ● Good personal hygiene
A Food Hygiene Certificate can be useful for candidates looking to work in kitchens, schools, care homes, contract catering or event catering.
Catering often works to strict timings. Food needs to be prepared, served and cleared away at the right time. Good organisation helps catering teams manage busy shifts, meet service deadlines and avoid delays. This is especially important in event catering, care home catering, school catering and contract catering, where meal times and service windows are often fixed.
Catering is a team based industry. Chefs, catering assistants, kitchen porters, waiting staff and supervisors all need to work together. Good communication helps prevent mistakes and keeps service running smoothly. Catering staff should be able to listen carefully, follow instructions, report issues and support colleagues during busy periods.
Many catering roles involve contact with customers, guests, residents, pupils, patients or clients. Good customer service helps create a better dining experience. Catering staff should be polite, professional, helpful and able to respond calmly to questions or requests. In customer facing roles, attitude and presentation can be just as important as technical ability.
Catering can be busy and unpredictable. Timings may change, guest numbers may increase or problems may happen during service. Employers value candidates who can stay calm, think clearly and keep working professionally under pressure. Adaptability is especially useful for temporary catering work, events and busy hospitality settings.
Small details matter in catering. This includes checking allergen information, following recipes, keeping portions consistent, presenting food well and maintaining clean work areas. Good attention to detail helps protect food safety, improve service quality and create a more professional experience for customers.
Catering employers often look for candidates who are:
● Reliable ● Professional ● Team focused ● Flexible ● Calm under pressure
Experience is useful, but attitude matters. Many employers value people who turn up on time, work hard, follow instructions and support the team.
The best way to improve your catering skills is through practical experience. Working in kitchens, events, care homes, schools or hospitality venues can help you build confidence and learn how different catering environments operate. Candidates can also improve their skills through food hygiene training, customer service experience, temporary catering shifts and learning from experienced chefs or supervisors.
At 26 Recruitment, we support candidates and employers across the hospitality and catering industry.
We recruit for catering and hospitality roles across:
● Contract catering ● Event catering ● Care homes ● Education ● Hotels and restaurants
Whether you are looking for your next catering role or need reliable catering staff for your business, 26 Recruitment can help connect the right people with the right opportunities.
