21 Hospitality Culinary Traineeship


  • Start Date: 01/09/2026
  • Course is for: School Leaver
  • Course Length: 1 Year
  • Funding Support Funding Support:
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Our intensive program provides hands-on training and theoretical knowledge essential for a successful career in the culinary arts.

Through a combination of practical kitchen experience, theoretical classes, and mentorship from industry experts, you will develop the skills and expertise necessary to excel in various culinary environments.

About the Culinary Traineeship:

The traineeship is a premier culinary programme offering comprehensive curriculum designed to inspire chefs into the exciting world of food and hospitality.

During your time on the course you will be inspired by leading culinary experts within both the college and work environments.

Aspiring chefs will have the chance to work alongside top culinary professionals and contribute to the culinary excellence that defines the 21 Hospitality restaurants.

Program structure:

  • Curriculum: Comprehensive training in culinary techniques, kitchen management, menu development, food safety and nutrition.
  • Practical Training: Hands-on experience in professional kitchens, including rotations through various restaurants and sections within the kitchen to gain exposure to different aspects of kitchen operations.
  • Theoretical Classes: Lectures, demonstrations, and workshops covering essential culinary theory and industry insights.
  • Mentorship: Guidance and support from experienced chefs and industry professionals, including regular feedback sessions and career counselling.

Required Entry Qualifications

Minimum age of 16 years

4 GCSE Grade 4-9, including maths and English

Passion for culinary arts and a desire to pursue a career as a professional chef

Interview

You’ll work on skills technique developments and employer-inspired projects. 

Most assessments will be carried out in our training restaurant and kitchens, Enfields Kitchen.

You’ll be marked against the standards of the awarding body and given continuous feedback to help you improve and grow as a chef.

Your teaching team are all highly skilled and experienced staff.

They adapt their teaching styles to suit different abilities and ensure they keep their skills up to date to adapt to modern techniques and changes in the industry.

During your time on the traineeship, you will be working within a well-established kitchen team who provide a very consistent product to a high standard each day. All dishes are skilfully prepared using the freshest seasonal ingredients available.

21 Hospitality have been operating acclaimed restaurants in and around Newcastle for the past 35 years.

They have gained an excellent reputation for producing great food to a loyal customer base.

Check out how we are embedding sustainability throughout our catering courses:

  • We don’t print our learning portfolios, they’re all online
  • We use biodegradable packaging
  • Students grow their own micro herb gardens to use in their cooking
  • All food waste is collected and turned into biogas
  • We use locally sourced produce
  • We check our learning schemes weekly to ensure sustainability is embedded

All practical sessions are taught in our modern, well-equipped training kitchens which contain industry standard kit and equipment.

You will also get the opportunity to work in one of the 21 group restaurants:

  • 21
  • The Broad Chare
  • Saint Vincent
  • Saltwater Fish Company
  • Porterhouse Butcher and Grill
  • Café 21 Fenwick Newcastle

Year 2:

  • Transition to a 32-hour contract with 21 Hospitality
  • Attend college 1 day per week to continue studies at Level 3 Professional Cookery
  • Gain practical experience in a professional kitchen environment alongside academic learning.

Year 3:

  • Progress to a 40-hour contract with 21 Hospitality
  • Engage in enrichment and additionality courses at college to further enhance skills
  • Continue hands-on experience in the culinary industry while pursuing additional qualifications

Whatever support you need, we’re here for you and will make sure you get the most out of your time at college.

We have expert teams in place to look after every single one of our students.

Our specialist teams can help with:

  • Learning difficulties
  • Physical and sensory disabilities
  • Dyslexia, dyspraxia, neurodiversity or other specific learning difficulties
  • Mental health and well being
  • Exam access arrangements
  • Money, finance and bursary advice
  • Careers advice, job and university applications

See here for more information, pop into one of our enrolment events, call us on 0191 490 4627.

There will be a cost for a uniform and professional kit such as a set of knives.

We’ll let you know the price during the enrolment process and support you to purchase the items through our preferred suppliers, ensuring you get the best rates.

There is also funding support for those that meet the eligibility criteria to help cover some of these costs, ask us more about this at our enrolment events.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A QUALIFICATION IN 21 HOSPITALITY CULINARY TRAINEESHIP?

  • Events Managers and Organisers
  • Medical and Dental Technicians
  • Waiters and Waitresses
  • Chief Executives and Senior Officials
  • Bar and Catering Supervisors
  • Laboratory Technicians

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Median Salary

£25,742

Averge Qualifications

Honours, Bachelor's degree

Apply Now

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Medicine and Dentistry: Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Therapy and Counselling: Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counselling and guidance.

Median Salary

£30,422

Averge Qualifications

Level 4 NVQ; Intermediate, DipHE, DipFE

Apply Now

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Food Production: Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Median Salary

£7,722

Averge Qualifications

Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C

Apply Now

Knowledge

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Economics and Accounting: Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Sales and Marketing: Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Median Salary

£67,398

Averge Qualifications

Honours, Bachelor's degree

Apply Now

Knowledge

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Food Production: Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Median Salary

£17,858

Averge Qualifications

Level 2 NVQ; GCSE at grades A*-C

Apply Now

Knowledge

Chemistry: Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Median Salary

£25,964

Averge Qualifications

Level 4 NVQ; Intermediate, DipHE, DipFE

Apply Now

Skills

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Skills

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

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School Leaver Course Guide 2026/2027

View or download our course guide for 16-18 year olds.

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