Selecting projects and tasks for a Catering industry placement
When planning your placement, you should think about projects and tasks that can:
- allow students to apply and enhance their knowledge of the industry as well as their technical skills
- add value to your organisation
You should do this in collaboration with the student's school or college.
Students taking the Catering T Level will have a broad understanding of the sector, and will be studying occupation-specific modules.
Here, you'll find examples of projects you can set for your industry placement students, as well as tips on things to think about when planning them.
Example industry placement projects for Catering
Contents
School catering
A placement student is undertaking a day release placement working as part of the food production team for a catering company who deliver meals to a group of schools.
Projects and tasks:
- Research and recommend ways to increase sustainable, local food ingredients into meals to reduce production and transport costs
- Design new dishes and menus, with specifications for their preparation to promote healthy eating and the fight against childhood obesity
- Analyse and report on performance against food safety requirements
Restaurant catering
An industry placement student is joining the kitchen of a restaurant that offers lunches and dinners for diners.
Projects and tasks:
- Working alongside chefs in the different disciplines within the kitchen applying skills across different food preparation areas
- Assess and report on the kitchen’s current performance against the kitchen’s health and safety requirements and policies
- Research and develop a new dish offering, including ingredients, costing, developing and testing the dish
Hotel catering
A small chain of boutique hotels traditionally recruits apprenticeships as part of their staff recruitment and development strategy. They now also take on several industry placement students each year across their hotels, as part of their longer-term recruitment strategy.
Projects and tasks:
- Investigating waste at each of the breakfast, lunch and dinner services to identify potential savings in food quantities, excess ingredients available for re-use and other efficiency savings
- Prepare dishes in the food preparation area and produce a report on ways the hotel chain may benefit from sharing practice across teams
- Monitor deliveries and the quality of raw ingredients and provide suggestions for potential improvements
Identifying placement projects
Look for projects and tasks for placement students that:
- allow students to understand the realities of food preparation and production
- provide opportunities to work alongside skilled chefs and catering professionals
- line up with your future skills needs to attract and challenge high-calibre students
- provide opportunities for students to make a meaningful contribution to food service in the sometimes high pressured environment of the modern kitchen
- allow learning and contribution without being an added burden for their supervisors or slowing down overall projects or business processes
You can use the planning the content of an industry placement article to:
- structure industry placement projects and tasks
- provide meaningful experience for the student
- deliver tangible benefits for your organisation
Skills Hub preparation
Students may spend up to the first 105 hours of their industry placement in an approved skills hub or employer training centre. This allows them to gain practical skills relevant to their industry placement and hit the ground running when entering the real workplace. It means that they can be a valuable resource to your organisation from the start of their placement with you.
If you're interested in offering an industry placement, get in touch with T Level providers near you.
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