There’s a lot of growth happening within the catering equipment industry, which means a significant number of commercial catering engineer jobs are being created. If you’re interested in careers in catering equipment, it’s the ideal time to seriously think about finding your dream engineering job. But, there’s a fair amount of competition out there. To ensure you stand out as a candidate worth paying attention to, you need to know how to become a catering engineer that people are desperate to have as part of their team.
As restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals and food production facilities continue to scale and modernise, the demand for skilled engineers is growing. After all, kitchens need to be designed, installed and maintained. Whether you’re just beginning your career in catering equipment or you’re looking to move into a new, exciting role, commercial kitchen engineering has a lot to offer. But, what does it take to succeed?
Skills You’ll Need to Secure Commercial Catering Engineer Jobs
- Mechanical and Electrical Knowledge – Unsurprisingly, careers in catering equipment and engineering require a fair amount of mechanical and electrical knowledge. From ovens and appliances, to ventilation and refrigeration units, you’ll need a good understanding of both mechanical and electrical systems. Not only will you need to know how to design and install commercial kitchens, you’ll need to know how to diagnose issues and repair them quickly.
- Knowledge of Industry Standards and Regulations – There are strict health, safety and environmental regulations that need to be adhered to in a commercial kitchen. As an engineer, you’ll be working systems that need to comply with food safety, fire safety, ventilation and energy efficiency requirements. If you don’t have the right knowledge, you run the risk of non-compliance.
- Problem-Solving and Analytical Thinking – There’s no knowing when a problem will arise in a commercial kitchen. In fact, issues tend to arise without warning, throwing the entire kitchen into chaos. To secure a commercial catering engineer job, you need to have the skills to troubleshoot whatever crops up, and do so quickly and under pressure.
- Project Management Skills – Engineering jobs in the UK require more than industry-specific skills, you’ll also need soft skills, including project management. Commercial kitchen projects are complex and time-sensitive. As an engineer, you could be overseeing full kitchen installations or organising phased upgrades, which involves juggling timelines, budgets and multiple contractors.
- Communication Skills – A lot of engineering jobs in the UK focus on engineering skills, but communication is just as important. You’ll interact with chefs, architects, contractors and facility managers, often all at once. Being able to explain technical concepts clearly and provide updates is key. Miscommunication can cause costly delays and misaligned expectations, not to mention a great deal of stress. With good communication skills, you can bridge the gap between technical insight and client needs.
Whether you’re entering the engineering workforce or looking to specialise in commercial kitchens specifically, building the right mix of technical knowledge and practical experience will set you apart from other candidates. By focusing on these five skills, you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream role and thriving as the industry grows. Head over to our careers page to find out more.