Leicestershire is a county famous for its food exports, which include Melton Mowbray pies and Stilton and Red Leicester cheeses. This landlocked Midlands county has a long history of livestock farming and is internationally famous for its cultivation of rare breeds.

As you would expect from a county that prides itself on producing high class food and drink, Leicestershire boasts a wealth of hotels, restaurants and gastropubs, offering fine dining.

An average wage for a head chef in the county is between £30-40k per annum, subject to the grade of the dining establishment and the experience of the applicant. A Chef de Partie annual salary can be anywhere between £16-22k depending on the venue and the specialisation required.

The county plays host to a number of annual food-based shows, which provide opportunities for casual employment and the chance to gain valuable catering experience. Events include The Leicestershire & Rutland Restaurant Awards, The Leicestershire County Show, and The East Midlands Food & Drink Festival held in Melton Mowbray, which receives over 20,000 visitors, making it Britain’s largest regional food festival.

The city of Leicester is the county town of Leicestershire, and home to one of the country’s leading universities. Students looking for evening and weekend jobs will find recruitment agencies regularly recruit bar and waiting staff for the city’s many hotels and restaurants. Salary is usually the national average of £6-7 per hour for such roles.