The catering and hospitality sector in Leeds
The regional capital of Yorkshire. The hometown of Scary Spice. Birthplace of Michelin star chef Marco Pierre White. Leeds is not just the fourth biggest city in the UK, it’s one of the best places to live and work in catering and hospitality. According to a recent OneFamily Liveability Index, Leeds is the second-best city in the country for people aged under 30 to live and work.
For chefs and hospitality professionals, it’s clear why. Our most recent data suggests that average take-home pay is on the up. The average salary of a chef is over £24,000 a year, whilst an executive head chef can expect to earn up to £50,000.
Demand for chefs, bar managers and baristas is also on the rise. Whilst high street jobs are declining nationwide, the demand for skilled hospitality workers shows no sign of slowing. And with music events including the famous Leeds Festival, and over 30 food and drink events in the coming year, temporary work isn’t hard to come by.
For chefs, training opportunities are more important than ever. With an ever-changing national palette, staying on top of the latest trends and techniques is crucial to staying at the top of your game. Leeds, thankfully, has plenty of training opportunities. From the Leeds Cookery School to Get Cooking’s workshops and events, there’s always a way to brush up your culinary skills. And if you work for a Blue Arrow employer, you may also be eligible for a Blue Arrow apprenticeship.
There’s little wonder so many chefs are flocking to Yorkshire’s de facto capital. Jonathan Hawthorne, previously of 2 Michelin-starred Noma in Denmark, recently moved to the city to launch the wildly popular XO Supper Club. Meanwhile, the locally-sourced menu at Broadley’s Bistro has diners flocking from far-flung places.
As a city, Leeds might just be the best place to live and work in catering and hospitality in the UK.
