Staffordshire is a county that is located between the West Midlands and north west regions of England. Its largest city is Stoke on Trent, but it also includes the towns of Burton on Trent, Stafford and Tamworth.
The economy in Staffordshire has seen one of the most dramatic transformations of any in the UK. Once a region dominated by heavy industry, the move towards the services sector has been quick and dramatic. The catering industry is now a major employer in the area, and Stoke in particular is home to nationwide catering brands such as Pizza Hut and McDonald's that offer hundreds of employment opportunities in roles as varied as customer service assistants and regional managers.
Major employers of catering staff in the region also include the Alton Towers amusement park. Contract catering plays a large role in Staffordshire's manufacturing and business facilities, and major firms such as Sodexo, Compass and Baxter Storey will often use local recruitment agencies to fill a wide range of positions. Stafford and Stoke in particular are also popular with leading coffee shop chains such as Starbucks and Costa Coffee.
Many catering roles pay by the hour, and it is rare for regular service staff to receive much more than National Minimum Wage. However, the catering industry is known for its gratuities, and that can greatly enhance a worker's take-home pay.