Food Service Assistant

Also known as:

Cafe Assistant
Canteen Assistant
Catering Assistant
Fast Food Assistant

Introduction

Food service assistants prepare food, take orders for meals, serve food, take money, clear tables and wash up. They work in self-service cafeterias, canteens and fast food outlets.

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Work Activities

Self-service cafeterias are in department stores, factories and colleges. Food service assistants work in self-service cafeterias, fast food outlets, works canteens, tearooms, coffee shops, sandwich bars and mobile catering vans.

They take your order at the counter and serve hot or cold food on plates. At the till they take the payment. From time to time they clear and clean tables and set food out on the self-service counter. They might have to help to wash pans and load dishwashers.

In a fast food outlet the food service assistants will do a lot of different tasks. They will put deliveries into the stock rooms, prepare and heat up food, serve customers from behind a counter (taking their order and payment, and handing them their food), clear tables and do general cleaning. They work in teams or crews and may spend a couple of hours doing one task before swapping with another team member and doing something different. As paper cups and plastic dishes are often used, there may not be many dishes to wash.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You must be able to get along well with different types of people and be able to deal politely and tactfully with customers.

You'll be on your feet almost the whole day, so you need lots of energy and stamina. When times get busy you'll have to work fast and stay calm.

You need number skills to handle money.

Some places put on special events, like parties for children, or market themselves on their fun atmosphere. To work in places like this you'll need a lively, outgoing personality.

Whatever kind of place you work in you'll need a high standard of personal cleanliness because you'll have direct contact with foods.

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Pay and Opportunities

Wages vary depending on the type of employer.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Food service assistants earn in the range of £190 - £220 a week, rising to around £250 - £300 a week. Hourly rates range from minimum wage up to around £7.00 an hour.

Food service assistants usually work 37-40 hours a week, which may include shift work, split shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work and public holidays. Overtime may be available. Part-time, temporary and seasonal employment is possible.

Food service assistants work throughout the UK, in hotels, restaurants, works' and schools' canteens and in hospitals. Holiday parks and other leisure operations, both indoors and outdoors, also employ food service assistants.

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Adult Opportunities

It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have relevant skills and abilities gained in dealing with the public, customer service or retail work.

Colleges will usually consider applications from candidates who don't meet their usual entry requirements. You should check the admissions policy of individual colleges.

Modern Apprenticeships, leading to SVQ level 2, may be available in some areas.

• 64% of people in occupations such as food service assisting work part-time.
• 2% have flexible hours.
• 8% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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