Jobs for Diploma in Food and Beverage Production Graduates

Training for professional kitchens

A Diploma in Food and Beverage Production (also called Food Production or Culinary Arts) trains cooks and chefs in kitchen operations, food preparation, pastry and bakery, menu planning, food costing, hygiene and kitchen management. It is offered by Kenya Utalii College, national polytechnics, technical institutes and private culinary schools. Hotels, restaurants, lodges, hospitals, schools and catering companies all need trained kitchen staff.

Jobs in the kitchen brigade

• Commis chef, the usual entry role, working under a chef de partie
• Cook in restaurants, hospitals, schools, camps and institutions
• Pastry cook and baker in hotels, bakeries and cafes
• Demi chef de partie and chef de partie as you gain experience
• Catering staff with outside catering and events companies

Entry requirements

Diploma programmes usually require a KCSE mean grade of C- (minus); public institutions take applications through KUCCPS. Certificate holders in food production can progress to the diploma.

Licences and hygiene

Anyone handling food commercially in Kenya needs a food handler's medical certificate, issued after examination by county public health services, and it must be renewed periodically. Employers will ask for it before you start. Knowledge of food safety systems such as HACCP is a plus, especially in hotels and industrial catering. Hospitality establishments themselves are licensed by the Tourism Regulatory Authority.

How to progress in the kitchen

Kitchens promote on skill, speed, consistency and attitude. Ask to rotate through different sections such as hot kitchen, cold kitchen, pastry and butchery during attachment and early jobs. Keeping a photo portfolio of dishes you have prepared helps when applying, and many hotels hold practical trade tests in interviews. Working at a resort or safari lodge for a season is good experience and often comes with accommodation and meals.

Pay and conditions

Entry-level kitchen pay can be low and hours long. Know the legal minimums for your town using our minimum wage guide, and check how service charge and overtime are paid.

Career path

The classic progression is commis chef, demi chef de partie, chef de partie, sous chef, head chef and executive chef. Many chefs eventually open restaurants, catering firms or food businesses, and kitchens abroad, including on cruise ships and in the Gulf, recruit experienced Kenyan chefs.