The West Midlands is a region of England that includes the cities of Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. With a population of around 2.5 million, it is the second-largest metropolitan area in the UK after London.

The West Midlands is a vibrant and highly developed area, and that means several catering brands and operators have a presence in the area. Although large parts of the West Midlands are struggling with high rates of unemployment, catering staff are in high demand - particularly in Birmingham. Whilst rates of pay in ordinary staff roles are relatively low, the chance to earn gratuities makes some positions very desirable. Local recruitment agencies have a continuous supply of vacancies for chefs, waiting staff, managers and bar staff in the local area.

Employers are wide and varied in the West Midlands, and they include restaurant chains such as Frankie & Benny's and Pizza Hut. There are also thousands of independently owned coffee shops, restaurants, bars and hotels all offering hourly paid employment. Catering firms Baxter Storey, Sodexo and Compass also have a very strong presence in Birmingham and Coventry. Large-scale food manufacturing companies in the area include Premier Foods, and Large pub operating companies which have their headquarters in the region include The Spirit Pub Company and Punch Taverns.