Catering and Hospitality Services

Welcome to the exciting world of catering and hospitality! Cook up a storm and deliver your best service as you develop the skills you’ll need for a career in this dynamic industry. You’ll cover everything from professional cookery to food service, working in our industry-standard kitchens and restaurant. With a focus on real-world experience, this one-year course prepares you for a career in hospitality or further studies at Level 3.

What You’ll Learn 

You’ll gain a solid foundation in both the practical and theoretical aspects of the catering and hospitality industry. You’ll learn valuable skills in professional cookery, food and drink service, and customer care, while also learning the essentials of food safety.

You’ll also work in our professional on-site kitchens and restaurants, developing teamwork and communication skills along the way.

You’ll study topics such as:

• The hospitality industry size and scope including different job roles
• Food preparation and cooking skills
• Food safety
• Food and drink service skills
• Customer service

Whilst you get hands-on experience working in a real hospitality setting, you’ll understand the variety of roles available in the industry. You will also participate in masterclasses led by industry experts and visit hospitality businesses to broaden your understanding of the many careers in hospitality.

Highlights 

You can look forward to:

• A one-week work experience block with the chance to work at Farncombe Estate and other local employers
• Trips will be organised to places such as Borough Market in London, Bristol street foods, local employers, hospitality expos such as Hotel Olympia and the Good Food Show
• Guest speakers and masterclasses from our portfolio of employers, from Michelin star restaurants to street food
• Industry standard kitchens with the latest technology
• Real experience working in our on-site restaurant

Assessment  

The course is assessed through coursework to include short answer tests, multiple choice tests and assignments. The practical side is assessed through observations of your performance.

Anything else? 

A GC uniform is required and available at a discounted price from Russums, our national supplier. Student grants may cover the cost if eligible.

You’ll attend college 3 to 4 days a week, with additional time dedicated to professional development, part-time work, and homework.

In addition to the course, you’ll also develop transferable soft skills and professional standards that will prepare you for your next steps in catering and hospitality. We set a target of 100 hours for professional development through activities like part-time work, training days, or courses. You’ll also complete the college’s Which Three Skills programme to develop skills like communication, teamwork, resilience and more.

At Gloucestershire College we want students to develop their English and Maths skills so that they achieve their learning goals and future career aims. For this reason, all full-time students (16-18) who have not achieved grade 4 or above English language or maths GCSE will study these subjects as part of their course.