Careers in Foodservice

The foodservice sector offers a clear and rewarding career path for individuals passionate about high-quality seafood and customer service. The foodservice sector, which includes both takeaway fish and chip shops and seafood restaurants. At Seafish, we offer support, advice and guidance for any and all individuals seeking careers in the seafood industry, from beginners to experienced professionals.

There are currently over 80,000 people working in the foodservice sector. Some of the careers which can be obtained in the foodservice sector are listed below.

More information about training courses can be found here.

Waiter or waitress

Waiting staff will work as part of a team to offer an efficient and helpful service to customers by preparing the dining area, taking orders, clearing tables, and delivering food.

Waiting staff may be offered opportunities to move into food preparation, counter service, or fish frying; this career path also opens up opportunities in other sectors of catering and hospitality.

There are usually no pre-entry qualification requirements, though basic numeracy, literacy and communication skills will likely be desired.

Counter assistant

Counter assistants must offer efficient and helpful service to customers. They take, prepare and pack customer orders, deal with requests for information, handle payments, and clean work areas.

Counter assistants may be able to move into food preparation, waiting, or fish frying roles. Moving into other sectors of catering and hospitality is also possible. A customer service skills training programme is available.

There are usually no pre-entry qualification requirements, though basic numeracy, literacy and communication skills will likely be desired.

Food preparation assistant

Food preparation assistants work as part of a team to ensure that food is prepared, on time, to sufficiently high standards and customer requirements.

Food preparation assistants may move into counter assistant, waiting, or fish frying roles. Opportunities in other sectors of catering and hospitality may also arise.

There are generally no pre-entry qualification requirements although we recommend some food hygiene training as a minimum.

Fish fryer

Fish fryers will lead a team responsible for the preparation and cooking of customer orders. This involves cooking seafood, receiving deliveries, and maintaining good food hygiene and safety as well as customer, staff and visitor health and safety.

Fish fryers may have the opportunity to work towards the position of manager or owner/manager. They may also wish to move into another sector of catering or hospitality.

While there are no pre-entry qualification requirements, fish fryers must be competent in cooking fish and other menu items, as well as experienced in using fish frying equipment and keeping good safety and hygiene standards. Supervision experience and good communication skills may also be desirable. Various fish frying training programmes and qualifications are available. For more information please start here.

Manager

Managers are responsible for the management and profitability of a foodservice business. This includes selecting and buying produce, setting retail prices, building relationships with customers, wholesalers and traders, managing health and safety, managing staff, sales and marketing, and finance.

To be a manager, commercial experience and retail business skills are usually required. This includes a good knowledge of sales and marketing, relevant legislation, financial and business management, health and safety, and hygiene, as well as good people skills. Managers will also be capable fish fryers with relevant experience in the sector.

New entrant managers are recommended to consider the NFFF three-day training course as well as level 2 food hygiene and health and safety courses.