Apprentice Commis Chef

Sodexo Ltd; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 8,200 - 13,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded Apprenticeship

Paid real-life experience

On-site learning hours

Support from trainer & mentor

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Sodexo Ltd in the UK is offering a paid Level 2 Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship. Over 8 months you’ll gain hands‑on experience across food, service and customer care in a real hospitality setting, with training built into your working week.

You’ll learn safe food prep, service support, teamwork and communication, with regular coaching from a vocational trainer and your workplace mentor. No prior hospitality experience needed.

Qualifications

• Eligibility: aged 16–21 at start, or up to 24 with EHCP/care-experienced.
• No previous hospitality experience needed.

Responsibilities

• Hands-on experience across kitchen and customer-facing areas.
• Support chefs with food prep and service setup.
• Maintain cleanliness, safety and organisation of kitchen and service areas.
• Serve customers and assist with daily service tasks.

Job description

About the role:

Finished school or college? Want to earn, learn and find out where hospitality could take you?

This is a paid job with proper training built in. You’ll join Sodexo in a real hospitality setting, build confidence at work and get hands‑on experience across food, service and customer‑facing tasks.

Through the Level 2 Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship, you’ll spend 8 months learning the basics of how great hospitality works - from preparing food safely and supporting busy service, to working with customers, communicating as part of a team and understanding what good looks like in the workplace.

Sodexo is looking for motivated apprentices to join our team at Sodexo. You don’t need to have it all figured out yet - this programme is designed to help you try different areas, learn what you enjoy and take your first step into work.

Whatyou’llgain:

• A fully funded Level 2 Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship
• Paid, real‑life experience in a professional hospitality team
• Training across catering, food preparation, food and beverage service, customer service, hygiene, allergens, teamwork and communication
• Regular support from a vocational trainer, plus guidance from your manager and workplace mentor
• Time to learn during your working week, with at least 187 hours of planned off‑the‑job learning built into the programme

What you’ll actually do day to day:

You’ll get hands‑on experience across both kitchen and customer‑facing areas, helping you understand how a busy hospitality team works.

Back of house tasks may include:

• Preparing simple food items such as sandwiches, salads, breakfast items or snacks
• Washing, chopping, weighing and portioning ingredients
• Supporting chefs with basic food preparation and service set‑up
• Keeping kitchen areas clean, safe and organised
• Helping with stock rotation, labelling, food temperatures and allergen processes

Front of house tasks may include:

• Welcoming customers and helping create a friendly service experience
• Serving food and drinks at counters, cafés, restaurants or hospitality areas
• Replenishing displays, fridges, cutlery and service areas
• Taking simple orders or using a till once trained
• Keeping customer areas clean, tidy and ready for service

You won’t be expected to know everything straight away — your manager, team and trainer will support you as you learn.

How the apprenticeship is delivered:

Most of your learning will happen on site as part of your normal working week. You’ll be learning by doing, with support from your manager, workplace team and apprenticeship trainer.

• You’ll build skills through real tasks during your shifts, such as food preparation, service, customer care, hygiene and teamwork
• Your apprenticeship trainer will visit you on site to support your progress, review your learning and help you prepare for assessments
• Your manager and team will help you put what you’re learning into practice every day
• You’ll also have planned time during your working hours to complete apprenticeship learning, activities and evidence

Whatwe’relooking for:

• To be eligible for this programme, you must be aged 16–21 at the start of the apprenticeship, or up to 24 if you have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or are a care experienced young person.
• You’re curious, willing to learn and happy to get stuck in
• You enjoy working with people and want to build confidence in a team
• You care about doing a good job, whether that’s preparing food, serving customers or helping the team during a busy shift

Who is this for?

• Finished school or college and not sure what comes next?
• Want to earn money, gain a qualification and learn on the job instead of sitting in a classroom full time?
• Interested in food, hospitality, customer service or working as part of a busy team?
• Looking for a supported way into work, with people around you who will help you learn?
• Ready to build skills that could lead to a role in catering, food and beverage, customer service or another apprenticeship?

No previous hospitality experience is needed - just a positive attitude, reliability and a willingness to learn. We’ll help you build the rest.

Perks of the Job:

• “Perks at Work” platform-discounts on cinema, restaurants, retail and more
• Uniform and personal protective equipment provided
• Holiday allowance + bank holidays
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Access to learning that supports your personal development, wellbeing and career confidence
• Be part of a diverse, supportive team where your career really matters

About Sodexo

We’re one of the UK’s leading hospitality and facilities management providers, delivering services in places like schools, hospitals, defence sites, corporate offices and more. At Sodexo, you’ll be part of a team that values learning, inclusion and helping people grow their careers from the very start.

Sodexo reserves the right to close this advert early if we are in receipt of a high number of applications