Governed by the county of Greater Manchester but historically considered a part of Lancashire, Manchester is the North West of England's business capital and has a population of over 500,000 people. As the third most popular city to be visited by tourists after London and Edinburgh, Manchester is a great place to eat and be entertained.
There are literally thousands of restaurants in the city, including over 300 in the centre alone. Add to that all the hotels and catering companies for Manchester's booming business sector, and there are a myriad of employment opportunities that catering recruitment agencies are commonly requested to fill.
Obviously the Lancashire and Manchester catering sector encompasses much more than just jobs for chefs. There are needs for front of house staff, waiters and waitresses, floor managers and so on.
Job overview and salaries
This is not the best paid sector, especially for entry-level staff, with starting rates of pay frequently between £6-7 per hour. Having said that, management roles frequently command over £26k per year, and there are plenty of opportunities for ambitious candidates to work their way up. You will need to be prepared to work long hours in fast-paced environments, whether you're on the restaurant floor or in the kitchen. Catering staff frequently work in the sector for the love of food, hospitality and teamwork or to support themselves through study.
Specialist catering recruitment agencies in Manchester & Lancashire can source for permanent, and particularly temp catering jobs, or there are sector wings of established recruitment chains. Successful catering companies often look to these employment agencies because they know that no industry requires more teamwork than catering. Sourcing the right staff, not just in terms of experience and qualifications but attitude and personality, is essential to the success of a catering team.