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Level 2 Culinary Skills Course in Leicester – Leicester College Freemen’s Park Campus

CostAnnual Tuition Fee: GBP390.00. Material Fee: GBP150.00. Resident Fee: GBP30.00. Additional costs may apply and concessions may be available. Please click on GO TO COURSE or call 0116 224 2240 or email [email protected] for more information.
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 2
DeliveryClassroom based
Start7 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyCity & Guilds awarding body
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About this course

Level 2 Culinary Skills Course in Leicester. Classes run full-time at Leicester College Freemen's Park Campus, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The course runs for one year. You'll start with the fundamentals: stocks, soups, and sauces. From there you'll move into meat, poultry, fish, and baking. You'll prepare dishes in a working café environment and complete 20 hours of work experience in a professional kitchen. Entry requires at least a grade 2 (E) in both GCSE English and maths, or equivalent. Applicants aged 19 or over without formal qualifications will be considered.

Who this course is for

This course is designed for aspiring chefs looking to kickstart their careers in the hospitality industry. It begins with foundational culinary skills and gradually advances into the technical intricacies of the trade. Emphasis is placed on mastering professional techniques to pave the way for progression to higher-level courses in college or entry into a junior position in a professional kitchen.

As part of the course requirements, you'll engage in a 20-hour work experience program aimed at honing essential employability skills and preparing you for the next phase of your career journey (scheduled between October and May of the following year). Our dedicated work placement team is available to provide support throughout this process.

Additionally, you'll take part in activities geared towards personal development, fostering character growth, and building confidence essential for thriving in both personal and professional fields.

For individuals aged 16-19, these activities, along with the work experience program, are scheduled into your timetable, with the option to participate in supplementary activities.

For other age groups, activities will be tailored to meet specific needs and requirements.

Entry requirements

For admission to this course, applicants must provide at least one reference. Additionally, a minimum of 90% attendance is preferred. A grade 2 (E) or above in both GCSE English and maths is mandatory. However, applicants over the age of 19 without formal English and maths qualifications will be considered. For candidates aged 16-18, enrolment will be in a study program that involves retaking GCSEs or pursuing Functional Skills in English and maths if a grade 4 or higher has not been attained.

What you will learn

  • You'll prepare stocks, soups, and sauces using professional techniques.
  • You'll cook meat, poultry, and fish to industry standards.
  • You'll bake biscuits, cakes, and sponges.
  • You'll work as part of a team to produce dishes in a live café environment.
  • You'll complete 20 hours of work experience to develop employability skills.
  • You'll develop the personal and professional skills needed in a working kitchen.

How you will learn

You'll learn through hands-on practical sessions in a professional kitchen environment, producing dishes for a live café. Classroom-based teaching covers both technique and theory. A 20-hour work placement, scheduled between October and May, forms part of the course requirements. Personal development activities are built into the timetable alongside practical and academic work.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Leicester College Freemen's Park Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Commis chef: entry-level role in a professional kitchen
  • Kitchen assistant: supporting chefs with prep and service
  • Café assistant: food preparation and front-of-house support
  • Catering assistant: working in schools, hospitals, or event catering
  • Pastry assistant: supporting baking and dessert production

What you could study next

  • Level 3 Professional Cookery Diploma: the natural next step if you want to move into senior kitchen roles or specialise further.
  • Level 2 Food Safety in Catering (Award): a short compliance qualification many employers expect alongside a culinary skills qualification.
  • Apprenticeship in Professional Cookery: combine on-the-job training with a qualification while earning a wage.
Apply on leicestercollege.ac.uk →
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