Professional Cookery (Level 5)

Turn your passion for food into a career with this Professional Cookery course. Through hands-on skills classes, you’ll learn food preparation techniques, master a range of cooking methods and build confidence working in professional kitchens.

You will also prepare, cook and present food to customers in our training restaurant. You will develop a strong understanding of food hygiene, safety and best practice, ensuring you meet the standards expected within modern hospitality settings.

This course builds the practical foundation you need for further study or a career in professional cookery.

For this course you'll need:

• A professional cookery qualification at SCQF Level 4.
• Core Skills at Level 4 or four national qualifications at Level 4 including Maths and English.
• The ability to stand in a hot environment for hours at a time.

If you don’t have formal qualifications, but have appropriate experience or training, we will happily consider your application.

This course involves:

• Preparing and cooking a range of foods; poultry, fish, meat, vegetables, soups, sauces, baked goods and desserts.
• Working in different sections of a professional kitchen.
• Food hygiene and safety: learn how to maintain the highest standards of food hygiene and safety in a professional kitchen – crucial with the catering and hospitality industry.
• The theory to support what you are doing in practical classes.

On completion of this course you may:

• Progress to Advanced Professional Cookery.
• Start your career at commis chef/cook level.

You will learn:

• Knife skills.
• Cooking skills.
• Plating skills.
• Kitchen management.
• Meta-skills (such as collaboration, using initiative and focusing).

We have close links with local employers and take students on industry visits, as well as inviting employers in to talk to classes. We encourage part-time work in the hospitality industry to support your studies.