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Kitchen Porter: job description, salary, training, and latest mission offers
In the hospitality sector, Kitchen Porters play a crucial role in restaurants, hotel Food & Beverage (F&B) operations, pubs, cafes, and catering operations.
On this page, you can find comprehensive information on the latest Kitchen Porter job descriptions, salaries, training opportunities, and mission offers from Brigad. If you're a Kitchen Porter seeking new opportunities, short-term work, or planning the next step in your career, this is what you need to know to advance further in the field.
What is a Kitchen Porter ?
Hygiene and keeping kitchens, utensils, and surfaces clean is essential for the smooth-functioning of every kitchen. That’s the role Kitchen Porters play in kitchens of every shape and size.
A kitchen porter is responsible for keeping kitchens clean, tidy, and hygienic, and washing pots, pans, equipment, and utensils.
Kitchen Porters play an important role in the hospitality and catering industry. Being a kitchen porter is an valuable job, involving food hygiene, being part of the kitchen staff team, and basic food preparation is also part of the Kitchen Porter job description. Kitchen porters are either in-house or work permanent temporary contracts for an agency, working on behalf of catering or hospitality establishments in London and other united kingdom cities.
Being a Kitchen Porter is a useful way to gain basic food preparation experience that could help you work your way up to being a chef or Sous Chef one day on a permanent temporary contract instead of kitchen porter roles that are often paid on an hourly basis.
What does a Kitchen Porter do ?
Alongside essential cleaning duties, such as dishes, pots, pans, equipment, and utensils, Kitchen Porters also play a role as assistants to cooks and line cooks.
Kitchen Porter duties include the following:
- Cleaning and sanitising, before and after use, of all food preparation areas, including cookers, hobs, surfaces, and kitchen floors after shifts.
- Cleaning and ensuring food mixers and other food preparation utensils and machines are fully functioning and clean
- Sweeping and mopping to ensure the floors, kitchen, and food storage areas are clean, neat, tidy, and hygienic
- Washing dishes, especially if they’re needed quickly, or washing them in a machine and ensuring they’re clean, dried, and ready for the next day
- Washing other utensils and kitchen essentials, such as knives and cutting boards
- Keeping refrigerators and freezes clean, organised, and tidy
- Handling deliveries and putting ingredients in the right storage areas
- Emptying bins and recycling into larger, external bins for collection
- Any basic food preparation as required by line cooks or other junior chefs, such as chopping and peeling vegetables.
What qualities define a Kitchen Porter ?
Kitchen Porters need to have attention to detail, be neat, tidy, organised, efficient, able to work in busy, fast-paced kitchen environments, and have some basic cooking skills.
The latest mission offers for Kitchen Porters across London
Kitchen Porters looking for short-term work and flexibility, follow these three simple steps to begin receiving mission proposals:
- Register as self-employed Kitchen Porter before signing up for Brigad.
- Download the app and sign up in minutes; it's free, and there's no commitment required.
- Create and personalize your profile to start receiving mission proposals.
You're free to decide whether to accept or decline them.
How to find a Kitchen Porter with Brigad ?
To find a qualified Kitchen Porter with the Brigad app, 3 steps are sufficient:
- Create an account on the Brigad app or website (free registration and no commitment)
- Set up your missions in a few clicks specify the required skills, dress code, equipment, duration, payment method, and more.
- Submit your mission and let the algorithm handle the rest!
Once you set up a mission, it's sent to Kitchen Porters with the relevant skills in your area.
When a talent accepts, you'll be notified and can then connect with them directly.
All Kitchen Porters and other hospitality professionals undergo a strict vetting process to ensure the best match.
UK Companies That Are Hiring Kitchen Porter’s
Trusted by over 10,000 businesses to reinforce their teams, Brigad is widely used by both large groups and independent businesses in every sector of the hospitality industry.
The platform offers a connection with thousands of highly qualified, self-employed hospitality professionals such as Kitchen Porters.
UK Kitchen Porter Salary ranges
The Kitchen Porter salary in the UK varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and the type of establishment. In London and Birmingham, and chain restaurants and hotels, Kitchen Porters will earn more than working for smaller pubs or restaurants in the countryside.
On average, a Kitchen Porter can earn anywhere from £21,000 to £27,000.
How to become a Kitchen Porter ?
In most cases, a Kitchen Porter role is an entry-level job in kitchens, so although training and experience in the same job or similar jobs (such as cleaner, housekeeper, or hotel porter) is useful, it’s not essential.
You can get training on the job, or you can get training through vocational qualifications that often lead to full-time Kitchen Porter work.
How to become a self-employed Kitchen Porter?
Self-employment is becoming increasingly popular across dozens of professions, including Kitchen Porter’s in catering and the hospitality industry.
To become a freelance Kitchen porter, follow these essential steps:
- Register as a Sole Trader with HMRC: This is a crucial first step, requiring minimal paperwork and enabling legal self-employment.
- Obtain a UTR Number from HMRC: Secure your Unique Taxpayer Reference number, necessary for tax purposes and identification as a sole trader.
- Meet Eligibility Requirements: Ensure you're eligible for self-employment in the UK, especially important for non-EU international students who may face restrictions.
- Manage Your Tax Affairs: Be responsible for submitting an annual self-assessment tax return based on your income and expenses.
- Maintain Accurate Financial Records: Keep detailed records of all your income and expenses for tax purposes.
- Understand Tax Obligations: Familiarize yourself with tax bands and VAT requirements as they apply to self-employed professionals.
As a self-employed Kitchen Porter, you have the opportunity to explore diverse working options. This includes the ability to combine freelance projects with long-term contracts, providing a varied and dynamic career path.
You also enjoy significant work flexibility, allowing you to select your work schedule and locations that best align with your personal goals and preferences.
Additionally, it's important to stay informed by regularly consulting official government resources for any updates or new information related to self-employment.
Why choose the position of Kitchen Porter ?
Applying for Kitchen Porter roles is an entry-level way into the culinary and hospitality sector, whether your ambitions are to become a Chef one day, or go down the route of kitchen or Restaurant Management, or into bar work.
How to be a good Kitchen Porter ?
Good Kitchen Porters are diligent, pay careful attention to kitchen hygiene and cleanliness, are efficient in their duties, and take an interest in cooking if they want to progress into a culinary role.
What are the working conditions for a Kitchen Porter?
Working conditions for Kitchen Porters vary depending on the establishment. Kitchen Porters often work long hours, although in most cases, shifts are fixed at around 40 hours per week, with a mix of evening and weekend work.
Weekend work is normal as that’s when restaurants, pubs, and hotel F&B operations are usually busiest, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Typical working hours of a Kitchen Porter
Working hours are usually fixed at 40 hours per week, with a combination of weekend and evening work set out in shifts. After a few years, it’s not unusual to want more flexibility, better working hours, and increased take-home pay.
What career progression is Possible for a Kitchen Porter ?
Kitchen Porters who take an active interest in cooking and learning culinary skills and who receive additional training, can progress to become a Line Cook or Assistant Chef and, from there, could work their way up the culinary hierarchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a Kitchen Porter and Kitchen Assistant ?
The key difference between a Kitchen Porter and a Kitchen Assistant lies in their roles and responsibilities. A Kitchen Porter primarily focuses on cleaning and maintaining kitchen hygiene, including dishwashing and general cleaning tasks. In contrast, a Kitchen Assistant has a more diverse role, involving food preparation, kitchen organization, and occasionally assisting with cooking tasks, making their responsibilities broader in scope within the kitchen environment.
Do Kitchen Porters get tips ?
In some cases, Kitchen Porters may receive a share of tips, but it largely depends on the restaurant's policies and how tips are distributed. In many establishments, tips are typically distributed among front-of-house staff, such as Waiters and Bartenders, while Kitchen Porters and kitchen staff may not receive a direct portion of these tips. However, some restaurants have a practice of including kitchen staff in a tip-sharing system, especially in places where there is a strong emphasis on teamwork and recognition of the entire restaurant staff's contributions to the dining experience.
What to wear as a Kitchen Porter ?
As Kitchen Porter, it's advisable to wear a chef's uniform, including a chef's coat and pants, along with non-slip kitchen shoes for safety. An apron is essential to protect your clothing from spills and cleaning agents, and gloves should be worn when handling hot items or cleaning chemicals. Additionally, if you have long hair, using a head covering like a hairnet helps maintain hygiene and safety in the kitchen environment.
Waiter and Kitchen Porter : what’s the difference ?
The main difference between a Waiter and a Kitchen Porter lies in their roles and responsibilities within a restaurant. Waiters primarily serve customers, taking orders, delivering food, and providing customer service. In contrast, Ktchen Porters focus on behind-the-scenes tasks related to maintaining kitchen cleanliness, such as dishwashing, cleaning equipment, and ensuring a hygienic kitchen environment.