The catering and hospitality sector in Ipswich
- Head chef salary (September 2019) in Ipswich: £29,740 a year / £16.56 per hour
- Sous chef salary (September 2019) in Ipswich: £26,800 a year / £13.31 per hour
- Chef de partie salary (September 2019) in Ipswich £22,500 a year / £11.37 per hour
The gateway to East Anglia. The ancient county town of Suffolk. The hometown of Ed Sheeran.
Ipswich may not be the biggest nor the most famous town in the East of England, but it’s certainly one of the most intriguing. With a multicultural population, burgeoning festival scene, glistening waterfront, a host of independent shops, and a great food & drink scene, this maritime town on the River Orwell has an awful lot going for it.
Indeed, the town has picked up a number of gongs in the 21st century. In 2007, it was awarded the cleanest town award, in 2015 was rated as the third happiest place to live in the UK, and in 2017 was voted the seventh most desirable place to live and work in England by the Royal Mail. Perhaps it’s little wonder that over 3.5 million people visit each year.
Suffolk may not quite be as A-list as nearby Essex, but it’s got its fair share of glitz and glamour. Aside from the aforementioned ginger troubadour, a number of high-profile individuals have connections with Ipswich. Ralph Fiennes, Richard Ayoade, Sam Claflin, Delia Smith and June Brown (AKA Eastenders’ Dot Cotton) all grew up in the town, while Bill Nighy and Twiggy both have homes in the area.
Outside of Suffolk, the town is perhaps most well-known for its football team, Ipswich Town FC. Nicknamed the “Tractor Boys” to reflect the rural heritage of the county, the club became UEFA Cup champions in 1981 under the leadership of English football legend, Sir Bobby Robson. The club’s 30,300-capacity Portman Road is also a major source of seasonal employment for catering professionals.
Formed in 2006, one of the UK’s newest universities, the University of Suffolk, can be found on the waterfront. With 5,000 students, it’s a key catering and hospitality employer in the town. There are also a host of hotel kitchens, school canteens and multi-purpose venues in which catering and hospitality workers can earn their stripes.
According to the latest Blue Arrow data, the average head chef in Ipswich can expect to take home up to £30,000 a year, while a sous chef earns around £26,800 — slightly higher than nearby Norwich.
And for those looking to stay on top of their game and get ahead in the industry, Ipswich has many opportunities for training and development. A number of industry-recognised courses are available to chefs working in the area, including Catering & Hospitality courses at Suffolk New College.
