Hospitality is an exciting and flexible industry offering a wealth of career opportunities in hotels, restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars and many other venues across Scotland.

The sector offers a wide range of careers and jobs available to anyone with the right attitude including:

  • Chefs
  • Housekeepers
  • Hotel and catering managers
  • Bar staff
  • Food service staff
  • Baristas

If you enjoy working with people and would like to work in an exciting and varied job this could be the career for you.

What's the qualification?

You’ll gain a Foundation Apprenticeship in Hospitality at either SCQF level 4 or 5, which is the same level of learning as a National 4 or National 5.

This includes:

  • A Skills for Work award (SfW) in Hospitality at SCQF Level 4 or SCQF level 5
  • A Work Based Challenge Skills unit at SCQF Level 4 or SCQF Level 5

What will I learn?

Your Skills for Work award will cover:

  • Working in the professional kitchen
  • Working front of house
  • Working in the hospitality industry
  • Events

You will use the skills and knowledge you develop in your Skills for Work award to design and deliver a project. You will:

  • Work closely with an employer
  • Deliver you project to a real-life client
  • Develop an understanding of the hospitality sector

Your Foundation Apprenticeship will also help you to develop meta-skills. These skills are highly valued by employers. Meta-skills include:

  • Self-management
  • Social intelligence
  • Innovation

These meta-skills are necessary and highly desirable for working in a range of other related jobs.


Where could it take me?

Your Foundation Apprenticeship gives you lots of options: it’s up to you where you go next.

  • A Modern Apprenticeship: On completing your Foundation Apprenticeship, you’ll have the knowledge and experience to progress your career through a Modern Apprenticeship at SCQF level 5 or SCQF level 6.

  • Further education: Continue your studies at college with a related subject. Your work-based learning will support your college application.

  • Straight to a job: By developing your technical and meta skills, alongside your understanding of industry, you will have the key skills employers want. 

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How will it work?

You'll complete your Foundation Apprenticeship at school, alongside your other subjects. You'll spend time learning with a provider, such as a college, and with an employer on a practical work project. It'll give your career a head-start, and look great on your CV.

How can I apply?`

If you're in S3 to S6, you can do a Foundation Apprenticeship.

If you're interested in studying a Foundation Apprenticeship at level 4 or 5, speak to your guidance teacher or careers adviser to find out what's available in your school.