How to Become a Chef in the UK

Becoming a chef in the UK doesn’t require a degree — most chefs learn on the job, starting near the bottom of the brigade and working up. Here’s how the path actually works.

Start where you can get hired

Almost nobody starts as a chef. The two common entry points are:

• Kitchen porter (KP) — washing up and basic prep. It gets you inside a working kitchen, and good KPs who show up and work hard are often given prep and cooking tasks within months.
• Commis chef — the first true chef role, assisting senior chefs and rotating through sections. Some venues hire commis chefs with no experience if you’re keen and reliable.

If you can, get your Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate first — it’s cheap, online, and makes you far easier to hire.

Learn every section

Kitchens are organised into sections — larder, sauce, grill, pastry. As a chef de partie you’ll run one of these. The faster you can work multiple sections well, the more valuable you are.

The path up

1. Kitchen porter / commis chef — learn the basics, prove reliability
2. Chef de partie — own a section
3. Sous chef — second in command, run service
4. Head chef — run the whole kitchen

How to move up faster

• Say yes to extra sections and shifts
• Keep your station immaculate — chefs notice
• Learn the menu and the why behind each dish
• Move venues if you’re stuck; a busier or better kitchen teaches you more

Ready to start? Browse cook jobs and commis chef jobs near you.