Catering Assistant Apprenticeship

About the Apprenticeship

This is a paid job with proper training built in, designed to help you earn, learn, and discover where a career in Catering and Hospitality could take you. You’ll join Sodexo in a real catering setting, build confidence at work, and gain hands-on experience across food preparation, service, and customer-facing tasks.

Through the Level 2 Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship, you’ll spend 8 months learning the basics of how great Catering and Hospitality works. This includes preparing food safely, supporting busy services, working with customers, communicating as part of a team, and understanding what good looks like in the workplace.

What You'll Gain

• A fully funded Level 2 Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship
• Paid, real-life experience in a professional hospitality team
• Training across catering, food preparation, food and beverage service, customer service, hygiene, allergens, teamwork, and communication
• Regular support from a vocational trainer, plus guidance from your manager and workplace mentor
• Time to learn during your working week, with at least 187 hours of planned off-the-job learning built into the programme

What You'll Do Day-to-Day

You’ll get hands-on experience across both kitchen and customer-facing areas.

Back of House Tasks May Include:

• Preparing simple food items such as sandwiches, salads, breakfast items, or snacks
• Washing, chopping, weighing, and portioning ingredients
• Supporting chefs with basic food preparation and service set-up
• Keeping kitchen areas clean, safe, and organised
• Helping with stock rotation, labelling, food temperatures, and allergen processes

Front of House Tasks May Include:

• Welcoming customers and helping create a friendly service experience
• Serving food and drinks at counters, cafés, restaurants, or hospitality areas
• Replenishing displays, fridges, cutlery, and service areas
• Taking simple orders or using a till once trained
• Keeping customer areas clean, tidy, and ready for service

How the Apprenticeship is Delivered

Most of your learning will happen on site as part of your normal working week. You’ll be learning by doing, with support from your manager, workplace team, and apprenticeship trainer.

• You’ll build skills through real tasks during your shifts, such as food preparation, service, customer care, hygiene, and teamwork.
• Your apprenticeship trainer will visit you on site to support your progress, review your learning, and help you prepare for assessments.
• Your manager and team will help you put what you’re learning into practice every day.
• You’ll also have planned time during your working hours to complete apprenticeship learning, activities, and evidence.

What We're Looking For

• To be eligible for this programme, you must be aged 16–21 at the start of the apprenticeship, or up to 24 if you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or are a care-experienced young person.
• You’re curious, willing to learn, and happy to get stuck in.
• You enjoy working with people and want to build confidence in a team.
• You care about doing a good job, whether that’s preparing food, serving customers, or helping the team during a busy shift.

No previous hospitality experience is needed – just a positive attitude, reliability, and a willingness to learn. We’ll help you build the rest.

Perks of the Job

• “Perks at Work” platform – discounts on cinema, restaurants, retail, and more
• Free meals on duty (site dependent)
• Uniform and personal protective equipment provided
• Holiday allowance + bank holidays
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Access to learning that supports your personal development, wellbeing, and career confidence
• Be part of a diverse, supportive team where your career really matters

Application Information

Apply now and take your first step into a career in catering and hospitality. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications.