Make a donation

Build Skills for the World of Hospitality and Catering

Our Hospitality & Catering pathway helps learners develop the practical skills, confidence, and experience needed to progress into the hospitality industry.

Learners explore different areas of hospitality and catering, including customer service, food preparation, cooking skills, and event support. Throughout the course, learners build the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed for future paid employment, supported employment, volunteering, or further training.

In this pathway learners will develop skills in food preparation, menu planning, hygiene standards, and effective communication with customers.

Learners also gain an understanding of the business and operational side of the hospitality industry, helping them build a well-rounded foundation for future opportunities.

We focus on creating supportive, hands-on learning experiences that help learners grow in confidence, independence, and workplace readiness.

Real-Work Environments and Industry Experience

Practical experience is a key part of this pathway, helping learners develop valuable workplace and employability skills in real hospitality environments.

Learners gain internal work experience through our college catering environments, where they support food preparation, drink service, kitchen organisation, and customer service for learners, staff, and visitors.

Learners may also support catering and hospitality activities during:

  • College events e.g. VIP events, Ladies Lunches, Golf Days
  • Outdoor education visitor catering 
  • Enterprise activities across the college

Learners will access external work experience opportunities with local employers and businesses, including:

  • Cheshire Ice Cream Farm
  • Sandiway Manor
  • Theatre Porto
  • Cranage Hall
  • Local pubs and cafés 
  • Restaurants 
  • Catering companies 
  • Community events 
  • Hospitality venues 
  • Other local businesses 

These experiences help learners apply the skills they have developed at Petty Pool in real workplace settings while building confidence, communication, teamwork, and independence.

What does the Course Include?

Learners develop practical hospitality and catering knowledge in areas such as:

  • Health and Safety in the Catering Industry 
  • Food Hygiene and Safe Food Handling 
  • Food Preparation and Correct Food Storage 
  • Basic Cooking Skills 
  • Planning and Following Recipes 
  • Catering for Events 
  • Customer Service and Communication 
  • Teamwork in Hospitality Environments 
  • Healthy Eating and Balanced Diets 
  • Exploring Careers in Hospitality and Catering 

Throughout the course, learners are encouraged to develop confidence, independence, problem-solving skills, and positive workplace behaviours.

Preparing for Future Employment

This pathway helps learners prepare for a variety of hospitality, catering, and customer-facing roles.

Possible future opportunities may include:

  • Kitchen Assistant 
  • Catering Assistant 
  • Café Assistant 
  • Food Service Assistant 
  • Barista Assistant 
  • Hospitality Support Worker 
  • Event Catering Assistant 
  • Hotel or Leisure Assistant Roles 
  • Community Café and Catering Roles 

Learners also develop transferable employability skills that can support future volunteering, supported internships, further training, and paid employment opportunities.