INtroduction to the hospitality industry
Level 1 Award (age 19+)
Free for all learners (subject to eligibiity) and taught at Chelmsley Wood culinary school
Accredited by University College Birmingham
Course Level
Level 1
Duration
7-8 weeks
Placement
No placement, but lots of enrichment
Entry
September
21% of production chef roles are unfilled - skilled chefs are always in high demand
UK trained chefs are respected globally, opening doors for overseas work
Do you want to learn basic cookery skills so you can make the first steps to becoming a professional chef or work in hospitality? Taught by our expert chef lecturers, our Introduction to the Hospitality Industry (Award) short course will introduce you to basic preparation and cookery techniques. Our purpose-built culinary school is in Chelmsley Wood (near Solihull and just 10 miles from Birmingham). It boasts industry-standard kitchens to fire your creativity and a dining space where your creations will be served to the paying public.
University College Birmingham is renowned for chef training and catering courses and on this course, you will have the opportunity to work in different sections of the kitchen and front of house to build your culinary skills, kitchen confidence and hospitality repertoire, while cooking in a live, realistic working environment.
Skills you will develop include health and safety, kitchen organisation and teamwork, knife skills, different styles of cookery, allergen awareness, nutrition, international cuisine and an understanding of field to fork. On completion, you can start out as a chef in industry or progress onto our Level 2 and 3 courses. If you want to go even further, you can progress onto one of our food or hospitality-related degrees.
Please note: This Introduction to the Hospitality Industry (Award) course is only available if you are aged 19+. If you are 16-18, you can apply for our Introduction to the Hospitality Industry (Certificate) course. Both courses are free to study (subject to eligibility).
Former cookery student Yasmine Selwood (Picture: Shine TV)
Student stories: MasterChef quarter-finalist
Yasmine Selwood
By taking our Introduction to the Hospitality Industry (Award) course, you can go onto a Level 2 course and follow in the footsteps of talented ex-college students such as Yasmine, quarter-finalist of MasterChef: The Professionals 2021.
The mum-of-four, who subsequently topped up her FdA to achieve a full Culinary Arts Management BA (Hons) degree at the University, was also dubbed "Superwoman" by judge Marcus Wareing during her first appearance on the show for her ability to juggle her busy family life with work and her studies.
There have also been a string of other students from our Professional Cookery course to have featured on the hit BBC TV show, including MasterChef champion Dan Lee.
Discover more about Yasmine and our other MasterChef stars:
The culinary school will have similar equipment to the kitchens at our Birmingham College of Food
Artist's impression of the shop front at the Chelmsley Wood culinary school
Artist's impression of the shop front at the Chelmsley Wood culinary school
Teaching and assessment
Teaching will be delivered through spot demonstrations, group, peer and 1-1 support in all areas of the culinary school.
Assessment will be on practical skills and theory.
- Practical - as an ongoing process in a live, real working environment
- Theory - short answer and multiple-choice question papers and scenario style tasks
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030.
Uniform and kit costs
This course requires a uniform and kit costing approximately £280. However, the college is looking to get a lot of this cost funded and sponsored. depending on the items you purchase. Prices are subject to change each year – exact costs and information on how to order required items will be provided to you prior to enrolment.
You may be eligible for the Learner Support Fund, which assists college students with course-related costs such as essential uniform, equipment and travel. For more information, please visit our Financial Support for College Students page
Need some advice?
Our Schools Liaison team deliver drop-in sessions for you to ask any questions you have about college. Find out more here.
Join the conversation and check out the latest updates from Birmingham College of Food.
 |
UCB Food Courses |
"This purpose-built culinary school, and dining outlet for the local community, will act as a springboard for the chefs of the next generation. This free course has been designed specifically for the area of Chelmsley Wood, focusing on offering students, especially those who might not usually have access to formal training, the chance to develop skills and enter the hospitality industry."
"If you're considering this course, do it! Getting set up for Level 2 and 3 will definitely help you hit the ground running - in this industry, you can never learn enough. Having an introduction to all these topics will boost your confidence too and means you can go even further to succeed. The college changed my life and my career forever."
Career opportunities
The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Sous chef
Average salary: £30,000 - £40,000
Head chef
Average salary: £35,000 - £50,000
Catering manager
Average salary: £22,000 - £45,000
Pastry chef
Average Salary: £27,000
Food business owner/restaurateur
Variable
Product development chef
Average salary: £25,000 - £40,000
Aspiring to a higher level career? Complete this course and you could progress onto our Level 2 and 3 Chef Cookery course and then onto our Professional Chef or Culinary Arts Management degree.
Dan’s Story
Within 11 years of leaving Birmingham College of Food, Dan Lee was lifting TV’s coveted MasterChef: The Professionals trophy.
