Catering Assistant Jobs

If you’re enthusiastic, hardworking, and enjoy working as part of a team, Catering Assistant jobs offer a rewarding and fast-paced career within Scotland’s thriving hospitality and catering sector. At Stafffinders, we connect dedicated catering professionals and motivated newcomers with reputable employers across Glasgow, Edinburgh, and throughout Scotland, helping you find the perfect role to match your skills, experience, and career ambitions.

Catering Assistants play a vital role in supporting kitchen and service operations, ensuring food is prepared, presented, and served to the highest standards. From assisting chefs and maintaining cleanliness to serving guests and customers, their contribution keeps hospitality environments running smoothly. These roles are essential across restaurants, hotels, schools, care facilities, and event venues, where teamwork, reliability, and great service are key.

What Does a Catering Assistant Do?

A Catering Assistant supports chefs and kitchen staff in the preparation and service of meals. The role combines hands-on kitchen work with front-of-house support, ensuring high-quality food service and excellent customer experiences. Typical responsibilities of a Catering Assistant include:

• Assisting in the preparation and presentation of meals.

• Setting up and clearing down service areas.

• Serving food and drinks to customers or guests.

• Washing dishes and maintaining cleanliness in the kitchen and dining areas.

• Replenishing stock and monitoring food supplies.

• Adhering to all food hygiene, safety, and allergen control standards.

• Supporting chefs and supervisors during busy service periods.

• Following instructions and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently.

Catering Assistants often work as part of a larger hospitality or kitchen team, collaborating with chefs, kitchen porters, and front-of-house staff to deliver smooth, efficient service.

Skills and Qualities for Catering Assistant Jobs

To succeed as a Catering Assistant, you’ll need a positive attitude, good communication skills, and the ability to work well under pressure. Employers look for individuals who are reliable, flexible, and passionate about delivering great food and service.

Key skills and qualities include:

• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.

• Strong work ethic and attention to detail.

• Ability to work efficiently in a busy kitchen environment.

• Basic understanding of food hygiene and safety procedures.

• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, or weekends.

• Good organisational and time-management abilities.

• Friendly, approachable, and customer-focused attitude.

While previous experience in hospitality, catering, or food service can be an advantage, many employers provide on-the-job training, making this an ideal role for those looking to start or progress a career in the catering industry.

Training and Career Progression

Catering Assistant jobs in Scotland often include opportunities for training and development, allowing you to gain valuable skills and recognised hospitality qualifications such as SVQs or City & Guilds certificates in Food and Beverage Service or Professional Cookery.

With experience and training, Catering Assistants can progress into roles such as:

• Kitchen Assistant or Commis Chef

• Chef de Partie

• Catering Supervisor or Team Leader

• Catering or Kitchen Manager

Many professionals also move into hospitality management, event catering, or contract catering roles, opening up long-term career paths within Scotland’s dynamic hospitality and catering industry.

Start your career in Scotland’s thriving hospitality sector, explore Catering Assistant jobs with Stafffinders today.