Free Level 2 Food Production and Cooking Course. Work-based training at your workplace. You learn on the job, building skills in a real kitchen environment while you continue working. The course covers food production techniques and cooking skills across a range of catering settings, from school kitchens and care homes to pubs, restaurants, and retail food outlets. It typically takes 15 months to complete. A level 1 catering qualification is an advantage but there are no specific entry requirements.
Who this course is for
Anyone working or looking to work as a cook or chef in local authority catering, school meals, residential and care homes, the National Health Service kitchens, pubs, restaurants or retail food outlets. It will give you the chance to get an industry recognised qualification. An interest in cooking and good personal hygiene are important for this course.
Entry requirements
There are no specific requirements for entry to this course. A level 1 catering qualification would be an advantage.
What you will learn
You'll prepare and cook a range of dishes to professional kitchen standards.
You'll apply food safety and hygiene practices in a catering environment.
You'll work with different cooking methods suited to your kitchen setting.
You'll handle, store, and prepare ingredients correctly.
You'll maintain personal hygiene standards required in food production.
You'll organise your work efficiently during food preparation and service.
You'll demonstrate consistent cooking skills across the units required for the NVQ.
How you will learn
This is a work-based qualification, so your learning and assessment happen in your workplace kitchen. A trained assessor will observe you carrying out tasks on the job and review evidence of your work over the course of the 15 months. You may also complete written or verbal questions to demonstrate your knowledge. Your employer supports your training throughout.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. First College Lincs will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Cook (school meals or local authority catering)
Chef (pub, restaurant, or hospitality kitchen)
Kitchen assistant progressing to cook role
Care home cook (residential or nursing home kitchen)
NHS kitchen cook or catering operative
Retail food outlet cook or food preparation operative
What you could study next
Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery: the next step if you want to take on more complex cooking responsibilities or move into a senior kitchen role.
Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering (Highfield or CIEH): a standalone food hygiene qualification many employers ask for alongside a cooking NVQ.
Level 3 Award in Food Safety in Catering: suitable once you have experience and want to take on supervisory responsibility in a kitchen.
