Fancy yourself as the next Gordon Ramsey? If you have a passion for food, can handle stressful situations, and enjoy working as a part of a team, then a career in catering could be for you.

Seeing people enjoying the food you have cooked and building your own clientele can be very rewarding.

Good Chefs need to get plenty of experience, working in different types of places, so it is a good opportunity to travel as your options are varied. You could work in a hotel or a pub, or even on a cruise ship!

What personal qualities do I need to become a Chef?

Although very rewarding, being a Chef can be very stressful, with long hours in a very hot kitchen!

You need to be calm under pressure, be able to think on your feet and be able to multi task. You also need plenty of confidence and a good imagination.

How can I qualify to become a Chef?

You can start studying to become a Chef at any age although it can take up to 10 years to become a Head Chef, depending on the size of your workplace. If you are 16 or over, you can apply for a Modern Apprenticeship where you can get practical experience within the workplace and gain a NVQ 3 after three years work.

This is probably the best route as you will experience first hand working in a kitchen, whilst studying for qualifications at College.

You will also need to study for a Basic Hygiene Certificate, which you can also normally do at your local College. You could also get some work experience as a kitchen assistant, even if it’s just weekends.

You'll get to see Chefs at work and get a real feel for the environment, ensuring that becoming a Chef is right for you.

I would like to become a Chef. How much can I expect to earn?

Professional kitchens are very hierarchical and it's a good idea to learn about the structure of a kitchen as salaries depend where you are in the hierarchy.

For example, a head chef working in the city could earn anywhere from between £25,000 - £70,000, whereas a commis chef (a newly trained chef), could earn between £12,000 - £16,000.