Kitchen porter

Career path and progression

With experience and further training, you could become a trainee or junior chef.

You could also progress into management or move into bar work or food service.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• the ability to work well with others
• customer service skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• the ability to use your initiative
• physical fitness and endurance
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Food Preparation and Nutrition - Kitchen porters wash, peel, and prepare food items as part of their daily work, so understanding ingredients, basic cooking techniques, and food hygiene is essential. They also need to know how to store food safely and organise a storeroom to prevent contamination or waste.

Also relevant

• Design and Technology - Kitchen porters use a variety of kitchen equipment such as mixers, special knives, and cutters on a daily basis. Understanding how to handle tools and equipment safely and effectively – skills developed in Design and Technology – is directly useful in a busy kitchen environment.
• Physical Education - Kitchen porters spend long hours on their feet, lifting heavy deliveries, carrying equipment, and working at a fast pace in hot conditions. The physical fitness and endurance developed through PE are genuinely important for managing the demands of this role.
• Business - Kitchen porters who want to progress into restaurant management or run their own food business benefit from understanding how hospitality operations work. Knowledge of stock management, customer service, and how a kitchen fits into the wider business is useful for career progression.