What Jobs Can You Get in Hospitality and Catering

Do you aspire to work within a varied industry that is fast-paced, dynamic and makes a real difference to other people’s lives? 

The hospitality sector is one of the most competitive industries out there, offering a wealth of fantastic career options. You’ll provide exceptional experiences to customers, clients and guests, with plenty of opportunities for growth. In this guide, we delve into the exciting world of hospitality and catering, and discuss some of the most popular job roles within the sector.

What is the Hospitality and Catering Industry?

The hospitality and catering industry encompasses all businesses that provide food, beverages, and accommodation services outside the home.  The four core components within the hospitality and catering industry are:

• Accommodation – businesses that provide a play to stay i.e. hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages, guest houses and campsites.
• Food & beverages – any organisation that prepares meals or drinks for paying customers i.e. restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, nightclubs and fast food outlets.
• Contract caterers – companies that serve food and drink in a third-party venue i.e. schools, hospitals, businesses, prisons and armed forces.
• Travel & tourism – any business that provides services to customers who are travelling i.e. travel agents, tour guides, tourist information services and visitor attractions.

The sector is so important as it provides key services to people who are away from home. Not only is providing access to food, drink and accommodation a basic human need. It also offers opportunities for entertainment and socialisation.

The industry generates a significant amount of revenue for the UK economy and offers a vast array of career opportunities. It also contributes to tourism, both on a local and national level. This is down to the impact of hospitality and tourism businesses on an area’s overall reputation.

Can You Make a Career in Hospitality and Catering?

According to a government report, the UK hospitality industry employs around 1.8 million people and generates around £40 billion of revenue on an annual basis. So, it’s fair to say that you can definitely have a successful career in hospitality and catering. Jobs within the industry are categorised into front of house and back of house roles…

Front of House Jobs

Front of house roles involve direct communication with clients and customers. Typical front of house jobs in hospitality include: 

• Hotel receptionists
• Waiters/waitresses
• Restaurant hosts
• Concierges
• Event planners

Back of House Jobs

Back of house roles focus on completing various behind the scenes tasks, such as food preparation and building maintenance. Typical back of house jobs in hospitality include:

• Chefs
• Kitchen assistants
• Cellar technicians
• Food suppliers
• Cleaners
• Maintenance staff

What Can You Do With a Hospitality Degree?

If you’re looking to enter the hospitality industry, a hospitality management degree is a great starting point. A degree will give you the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed in the industry, allowing you to step straight into a job role. 

Hospitality graduates are highly desirable by employers. Careers in events, hotel and resort management, and sales and business development are all ideal matches for individuals with hospitality degrees. Some of the career paths you could choose include:

Hotel Management

Hotel managers are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a hospitality business. Typical responsibilities can include marketing, customer service, budgeting and sales. Common jobs within hotel management include Hotel Managers, Reception Managers and Resort Managers.

Food & Beverage Management

Food and beverage management is one of the most popular career paths for hospitality graduates. They supervise all restaurant and food service operations such as ordering supplies, customer service, budgeting, inventory and human resources. Typical jobs include Restaurant Managers, Catering Managers and Public House Managers.

Events Management

The events industry encompasses work on weddings, career fairs, festivals, exhibitions and everything in between. The role involves identifying a target market, creating a concept and coordinating all details to ensure a successful event. Events Managers, Conference Centre Managers, Concert Organisers, Charity Fundraisers and Wedding Coordinators all fall under the events management branch.

Step into a Successful Hospitality and Catering Career

If you’re looking to launch a successful career in hospitality and catering, RE Recruitment is here to help. We work with some of the UK’s biggest industry names and recruit for a wide variety of job roles. From front of house receptionist staff to back of house chefs, and everything in between. Register with us today to kick-start your career in catering.