Salary: £25,000 per annum
Location: Royal Arsenal, London
Contract type: Full-time, permanent
Reports to: Food and Beverage Manager / Hospitality Manager / Operations Manager
Role Overview
Are you looking to start a new career in hospitality and food service?
We are looking for a friendly, reliable and enthusiastic Trainee Food and Beverage Service Assistant to join our team. This is an entry-level role designed for someone who is keen to build a career in hospitality, catering, customer service and food service operations.
You do not need to have extensive previous experience. Full training will be provided as part of your induction, with ongoing continuing professional development once you are in the role. We are more interested in finding someone with the right attitude, good communication skills, a professional approach and a genuine willingness to learn.
In this role, you will support the smooth delivery of food and beverage services, assist customers and guests, prepare service areas, serve food and drinks, maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene, and work as part of a team to provide a positive customer experience.
This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to take their first step into hospitality and gain practical workplace experience in a supportive environment.
Key Responsibilities
Customer and Guest Service
- Welcome customers, guests, learners, staff or visitors in a friendly and professional manner.
- Provide helpful and polite food and beverage service.
- Take orders, answer basic questions about food and drink options, and support customer needs.
- Serve food and drinks safely, accurately and efficiently.
- Communicate clearly with customers and colleagues during service.
- Handle customer queries calmly and professionally, escalating issues where required.
- Help create a positive, welcoming and professional service environment.
Food and Beverage Service
- Prepare service areas before, during and after food and beverage service.
- Assist with setting up tables, counters, trays, displays, equipment and service stations.
- Serve food and drinks in line with agreed standards and procedures.
- Replenish stock, condiments, utensils and service items as required.
- Clear tables, service areas and customer spaces promptly and professionally.
- Support the smooth running of breakfast, lunch, refreshments, events or other hospitality services.
- Follow instructions from supervisors and experienced team members during busy service periods.
Food Safety and Hygiene
- Follow food safety, hygiene and cleanliness procedures at all times.
- Maintain clean, tidy and safe working areas.
- Wash hands, use personal protective equipment and follow safe food handling practices.
- Support cleaning schedules and daily hygiene routines.
- Report any food safety, hygiene, allergen or equipment concerns to a supervisor.
- Follow allergen awareness procedures and seek guidance when unsure.
- Help ensure food and drink are stored, handled and served safely.
Teamwork and Communication
- Work closely with colleagues to deliver a smooth and efficient service.
- Support team members during busy periods.
- Communicate clearly with kitchen, service and management teams.
- Follow instructions and ask questions when additional guidance is needed.
- Show a positive, flexible and helpful attitude.
- Support a respectful and professional working environment.
- Contribute to good teamwork and high service standards.
Stock, Equipment and Service Preparation
- Assist with checking, moving and replenishing stock.
- Help maintain service equipment, utensils and customer areas.
- Report low stock, damaged equipment or maintenance issues.
- Support basic stock rotation and storage procedures where required.
- Assist with deliveries, storage and preparation tasks under supervision.
- Help ensure service areas are ready, safe and presentable.
Health, Safety and Workplace Standards
- Follow health and safety procedures in all working areas.
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses or unsafe working practices.
- Use equipment safely and only after training has been provided.
- Keep walkways, service areas and workspaces clear and tidy.
- Follow fire safety, manual handling and workplace procedures.
- Maintain a professional appearance and follow uniform or dress code requirements.
- Protect customer, staff and business information where relevant.
Person Specification
Essential
- A genuine interest in starting or developing a career in hospitality, catering or food service.
- Limited workplace experience will be considered.
- A positive attitude and willingness to learn.
- Friendly, polite and professional communication skills.
- A helpful and customer-focused approach.
- Reliability, punctuality and commitment to good attendance.
- Ability to follow instructions, procedures and workplace standards.
- Willingness to take part in training and ongoing development.
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Good attention to detail when preparing service areas, handling orders and maintaining cleanliness.
- Willingness to work in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable
- Previous experience in hospitality, catering, retail, customer service, events, education, training, reception or another people-facing role.
- Basic awareness of food safety, hygiene or allergen procedures.
- Experience serving customers, preparing drinks, clearing tables or supporting events.
- Confidence speaking with customers and colleagues.
- Interest in progressing within hospitality, food service, catering operations or customer service.
Training and Development
Full training will be provided as part of the induction process. This will include familiarisation with workplace procedures, service standards, food safety, hygiene, allergen awareness, customer service expectations, health and safety, equipment use and escalation routes.
Ongoing CPD will also be provided once in the role to help you build your confidence, knowledge and professional skills. This may include internal training, shadowing experienced colleagues, guided practice, customer service training, food safety training and further development opportunities linked to hospitality, catering, food service, events or operations.
You will not be expected to know everything from day one. The role is designed to support your development and help you build a strong foundation for a long-term career in hospitality.
Qualifications
- No specific qualification is required.
- Applicants should be able to demonstrate a willingness to learn, a positive attitude and an interest in building a career in hospitality or food service.
Desirable
- Any previous training or certificates in food safety, hospitality, catering, customer service, health and safety or allergens would be helpful but are not essential.
Key Competencies
- Willingness to learn: Open to training, feedback and developing new skills.
- Customer service: Provides friendly, helpful and professional support to customers and guests.
- Teamwork: Works well with colleagues during preparation, service and closing tasks.
- Communication: Communicates clearly, politely and professionally.
- Reliability: Attends work on time and completes tasks responsibly.
- Attention to detail: Maintains clean, organised and well-presented service areas.
- Adaptability: Able to work in a busy environment and respond positively to changing priorities.
- Food safety awareness: Understands the importance of hygiene, safe service and following procedures.
- Professionalism: Represents the organisation positively through attitude, appearance and conduct.
Working Pattern
This is a full-time role based in Royal Arsenal, London. Flexibility may be required depending on service needs, events, customer demand, opening hours or business requirements.
The role may involve standing for periods of time, working during busy service periods and supporting different areas of food and beverage operations.
What We Offer
- Salary of £25,000 per annum.
- Entry-level opportunity to start a career in hospitality and food service.
- Full induction training to help you settle into the role.
- Ongoing CPD and development once in post.
- Practical workplace experience in food and beverage service.
- Supportive working environment with opportunities to learn from experienced colleagues.
- Exposure to customer service, food safety, hospitality operations and service standards.
- A role that provides a strong foundation for progression into food and beverage service, hospitality supervision, catering operations, events, customer service or team leadership.
Suitable For
This role is suitable for someone who is looking to begin a new career path in hospitality, catering or food service. It may suit a school leaver, college leaver, career changer, returner to work, or someone with limited experience who wants to move into a practical, people-focused role.
You may have previous experience in retail, customer service, administration, education, training, events, hospitality, catering or another role where you have supported people. What matters most is that you are friendly, reliable, professional, willing to learn and interested in providing a high standard of service.
Pay: £25,000.00-£27,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
