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Catering Services Rating

Catering Services Rating

You’ll run an efficient commercial kitchen, and make sure our people have the food they need to get the job done, wherever they are in the world.

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This role is classed as a RBP Logistics and Personnel Rating. As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.

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  • £26,334 - £64,866
  • No qualifications
  • Surface Fleet
  • Logistics
  • Rating level
Chef at work in the Galley of HMS Diamond preparing food for the Ship's Company' evening meal time

Role details

The Royal Navy represents the United Kingdom worldwide, forging new alliances and maintaining old ones. Being a Catering Services Rating in the Royal Navy is a career that is literally miles from anything you could do at home. Travelling around the world, your job will range from cooking for the ship’s company on board warships or Royal Marines on land operations, to serving a fine dining experience to politically influential VIPs and royalty.

Wherever you may be in the world, you’ll perform a pivotal role: making sure our most important asset – our people – have the fuel they need to get the job done.

  • Our world-class training means you’ll learn all the ins and outs of running a highly efficient commercial kitchen, including responsibility for ordering, receiving, and accounting for provisions to sustain the menus you’ll write, as well as learning how to offer the highest level of premium front of house experience and the behind the scenes organisation that enables it.
  • Be part of the team whose role is a lot more than just food. Your crewmates, at all levels, look forward to mealtimes, so keeping high morale and optimised health are an essential part of the job.
  • Learn additional, crucial skills as an integral part of the ship’s advanced medical, fire fighting and damage control teams.
  • Travel the world, learning all about new ingredients and cuisines to incorporate into your culinary repertoire.
  • A starting salary of at least £26,334
  • Potential earnings of £64,866 as your career progresses
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, an apprenticeship, or a degree
  • Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses including an apprenticeship 12 months after completion of training

Skills you'll develop

  • You’ll learn every aspect of cooking, running a commercial kitchen and how to deliver a hospitality event of the highest standard, regardless of the operational pressures of what is going on around you
  • A pin-sharp eye for detail, collaborative teamwork, leadership and management skills, and the ability to communicate at all levels
  • You'll need to be aged between 16 to 44 (You can start your application from 15 years and 9 months old however you must be at least 16 years old on day of entry to basic training)
  • No prior qualifications are required to enter the Catering Services specialisation. However, the CS Fast Track Process and Award of Higher Starting Pay is only available to those who already have catering qualifications or relevant experience. Upon successful completion of Phase 2 training, Fast Track candidates will receive an enhanced starting salary of £31,685
  • You must be a United Kingdom national, or Commonwealth citizen, or Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
     
  • A keen interest in high standards of food and hospitality
  • A cool head for the pressures of a busy kitchen
  • A problem-solver, with a common sense approach, who can work well as part of a team
  • A real sense of adventure, with a high level of physical and mental fitness
Cooking on HMS BULWARK for 700 people can be really busy, but I love it. It’s not like being a Caterer at my local pub. I literally travel the world cooking with fresh food from local suppliers – it can be a real challenge but great fun.

Antony

Catering Services Rating

Career progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

  • Register your interest
  • Complete your application
  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
  • Interview
  • Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
  • Start training

Register your interest

Find the right profession and entry level for you, make sure you meet the basic eligibility criteria, and register your interest online.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive an email with more details about your chosen profession, along with an invitation to speak with our friendly recruitment team about any questions or concerns you might have.

Start your application

Find your place in the Royal Navy. Make friends for life, learn new skills and experience the world.

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