Counter service assistant

You could take a course in food and beverage service or hospitality and catering.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could apply to do a Catering and Hospitality Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship, or Food and Beverage Team Member Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship.

Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• are in care or have been in care
• are in prison or have been in prison

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You could apply directly for jobs. Some employers may expect you to have experience in customer service, catering or hospitality work.

You could start with a weekend or temporary job to build up your skills.

Further Information

You can find out more about working in catering from Caterer.com.

As a counter service assistant, you'll:

• welcome customers and take their food and drink orders
• handle raw and cooked food, following food hygiene rules
• set up and keep all eating and serving areas clean and tidy
• bring food and drink to the table or take-away point
• give advice about food content and menu choices and make sure customers have everything they need
• use a till and vending machines
• handle customer enquiries and complaints

You could work at a store or at a restaurant.

Your working environment may be hot and noisy.

You may need to wear a uniform.