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New courses coming to ELATT this September

We're working on new courses in Hospitality & Customer Service, Early Years, and Health & Social Care — and we'd love to hear from you. Register your interest now and be the first to hear when places open.

These courses are subject to funding confirmation.

ELATT's office at Kingsland Road is closed this week. We're still accepting applications, and queries can be made by email. If you'd like to give us a call however, please call this number: 07400-187-254.

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Hospitality Careers in London: How a Free Online Course Can Help You Stand Out

Hospitality is one of the biggest employers in London. Hotels, restaurants, cafés, and catering companies are often looking for friendly, reliable people. If you’re thinking about a hospitality career in London, there are lots of ways in.

Maybe you already work in hospitality and want something to show for your experience. Maybe you’re starting out, changing careers or coming back to work after a break. Whichever it is, this post explains the jobs you could apply for, what employers look for, and how our free Hospitality and Catering course can help.

What Hospitality Jobs Can You Apply for in London?

Hospitality has a lot of different roles, in kitchens, in cafés, at the front desk and out on the floor with customers. If you’re not sure where you’d fit, that’s fine. Here are four good places to start:

  • Café assistant: serving customers, preparing food and drinks, and keeping the café running smoothly.
  • Front of house assistant: welcoming guests, taking orders and making sure people have a good experience.
  • Kitchen assistant: helping the kitchen team with food preparation, hygiene and keeping the space safe and clean.
  • Receptionist: being the first friendly face guests see in a hotel or other busy venue.

Pay depends on the employer, the hours and your experience. As a guide, café assistants and front of house assistants in London can earn around £22,000 to £24,000 a year, according to National Careers Service information. With experience, you can move up into supervisor and specialist roles.

Do You Need a Qualification to Work in Hospitality?

Not always, and many hospitality jobs don’t ask for a qualification. But when lots of people apply for the same job, a recognised qualification can help you stand out. It shows employers you understand customer service, food safety and how hospitality businesses work. It can also open the door to further study if you want to keep learning.

What Is the ELATT Hospitality and Catering Course?

It’s a Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Hospitality and Catering, regulated by Ofqual (Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). It’s one of our new courses.

Here’s how it works:

  • Length: 12 to 16 weeks.
  • Time: 3 to 6 hours a week, in the daytime.
  • Where: Online, in live sessions with your tutor and classmates, so there’s no commute.
  • Cost: Free and fully funded by the Mayor of London for eligible adults in London.

You’ll learn how the hospitality industry works, what great customer service looks like, and the health and safety and food safety rules used in catering. You’ll also practise real workplace situations, like customer conversations, with role-play activities. Your tutor gives you one-to-one feedback along the way, so you always know how you’re doing.

You’ll also get help with your CV, job search, and interviews. That means you finish the course with both new knowledge and a clear idea of your next step.

Is This Course Right for You?

This course is for adults who want a hospitality or catering job, or a better one. You might be:

  • Working in hospitality, catering or customer service, and want a qualification to go with your experience.
  • Looking for work in a café, restaurant, hotel or kitchen
  • Changing careers.
  • Returning to work after a break, or a parent or carer getting back into work.
  • New to the sector and curious about what the jobs involve.
  • Not sure which hospitality job suits you.
  • Looking for support in searching and applying for jobs in hospitality.

You don’t need qualifications or experience to join. We’ll have a short chat first to check if it’s right for you.

A Head Start in Hospitality Business Management

The course is delivered online and assessed through coursework. Other hospitality courses are often about learning to cook. Ours is designed to give you a head start in business management. You’ll learn the knowledge that kitchens, cafés and hotels expect, such as food hygiene and customer service. If you love cooking, that’s a great reason to be interested in the sector, but this course is about the skills around it.

Support with English, Time and Getting Started

If you worry about timing, English or other things, that’s completely normal, and here’s what we can do:

  • English: When you join, we check your English. In many cases, you can study extra Functional Skills English alongside your course. If your English is at an early stage, we might suggest our ESOL courses first. An adviser can help you find the right path.
  • Time: Sessions are live and online in the daytime, for 3 to 6 hours a week. Many of our students are working people and parents, and our courses suit their busy lives.
  • What you need: You’ll need a device and an internet connection, plus basic reading, writing, number and IT skills. Our small classes and friendly tutors are there to support you. And if you need device support, we might support you on that as well.
  • Extra support: Your course is part of our Adult Study Programme. After a short skills check, you might also study extra subjects matched to your level, such as Functional Skills English or Maths, Professional Development or Digital Skills. Our Wellbeing Service is there too, at no extra cost.

Help to Find Your Next Job

We can’t promise you a job, but we can help you find your career goal, build your skills, search for jobs, and get ready to apply.

Our Careers and Employability Service is included at no extra cost. It can help with:

  • Your CV and job applications.
  • Searching for jobs in your area.
  • Interview practice.
  • One-to-one career guidance.
  • Volunteering and work experience options.
  • Weekly online workshops and employer events, where you can hear from people working in different sectors.

If you can’t take paid work yet, please don’t let that put you off asking. Volunteering, work experience and further study can all be good next steps, and an adviser can talk through the options with you.

Where Could This Course Take You?

When you finish, you’ll hold a nationally recognised qualification to add to your CV next to your experience. Then you can start applying for roles such as café assistant, front of house assistant, kitchen assistant or receptionist.

You could also move on to further study, such as Business Administration.

Ready to Take the Next Step in Hospitality?

If you want to apply, you can apply now for a free Level 1 Hospitality and Catering course at ELATT.

Not sure if it’s the right fit? Call us on 0800 0420 184 or email hello@elatt.org.uk, weekdays from 9am to 5pm. An adviser will check where you are now and help you find the right place to start.

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New courses starting February 2027: Early Years and Child Development; Youth Work; Health and Social Care.

Apply Now!