Customer Hospitality Apprentice

Summary

Join The Black Horse Inn as a Front of House Apprentice! You’ll greet guests, serve food and drinks, and help create a great atmosphere. If you're sociable and enjoy making people feel at home, this could be the ideal first step into an exciting hospitality career.

Wage

£15,704 to £25,396.80, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Your apprenticeship wage will be reviewed as you learn and develop your skills.

Training course

Food and beverage team member (level 2)

Hours

Hours of work can vary slightly, and will be flexible between the opening times of: Wednesday to Saturday: 10.00 – 15.00 and 17.00 – 23.00 Sunday: 10.00 – 16.30 Monday – Closed Tuesday - Closed

40 hours a week

Start date

Friday 1 August 2025

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

At The Black Horse Inn, we’re passionate about delivering a warm welcome and outstanding food, all crafted from fresh, local ingredients in our family-run pub. As part of our front-of-house team, you'll gain hands-on experience across all aspects of food and drink service, with full guidance and support.
If you're 18 or over, you’ll also be introduced to bar duties, including cellar maintenance and line cleaning.
Your key duties will include:

Greeting guests, taking orders, and serving food and drink with a friendly, professional approach
Learning to work behind the bar (for those aged 18+), including pouring drinks and caring for cask ales
Setting up service areas, including preparing tables and topping up condiments
Becoming familiar with the menu and daily specials to confidently assist with guest queries
Upselling menu items and making recommendations to enhance the customer experience
Keeping service areas clean, tidy, and well-stocked throughout the shift
Polishing cutlery and ensuring all presentation standards are met before service
Following all food safety and allergen procedures during preparation and service
Handling payments accurately and in line with company procedures
Working closely with colleagues to keep service running smoothly
Monitoring stock and supporting with replenishment and stock rotation
Responding to customer feedback and passing on concerns when needed
Taking part in training and development activities to build your skills
Contributing ideas in team meetings to help improve service delivery
Maintaining high standards of personal appearance, punctuality, and conduct
Supporting general duties and stepping in where needed to help the wider team

This is a great opportunity to grow your hospitality career in a welcoming and professional environment.

Where you'll work

MAIN ROAD
DONINGTON ON BAIN
LOUTH
LN11 9TJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

TEC PARTNERSHIP

Your training course

Food and beverage team member (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Serve food and beverages to individual business standards.
Identify opportunities and apply techniques to increase sales and improve customer experience.
Tailors communication techniques to meet customer needs and build rapport.
Maintain a safe, hygienic, and secure working environment.
Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
Follow food safety and allergen legislation and procedures applicable to own role.
Use technology and equipment in line with business policy to meet customer needs.
Handle transactions and payments securely.
Work as part of a team to ensure that the products and services are delivered on time and in line with business needs
Deal with or escalate issues that impact service and customer experience, and implement any instructions given by supervisor.
Use professional methods of communication that are tailored to different situations, and individual and team needs.
Manages own time and workload, prioritising tasks.
Maintain and rotate stock according to life cycle and business processes.
Ensure equipment and technology faults and maintenance issues are reported promptly.
Check customers are satisfied with products and services through questioning and act on feedback in line with business procedures.
Keep up to date with changes to products and processes.
Uses feedback to improve own performance.
Reduces the waste of resources, taking sustainability into account, in line with business expectations.
Follows and supports equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and principles.
Participate in team briefings, implementing instructions, and offering input or feedback where relevant.
Serve food and beverages to individual business standards.
Identify opportunities and apply techniques to increase sales and improve customer experience.
Tailors communication techniques to meet customer needs and build rapport.
Maintain a safe, hygienic, and secure working environment.
Comply with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
Follow food safety and allergen legislation and procedures applicable to own role.
Use technology and equipment in line with business policy to meet customer needs.
Handle transactions and payments securely.
Work as part of a team to ensure that the products and services are delivered on time and in line with business needs
Deal with or escalate issues that impact service and customer experience, and implement any instructions given by supervisor.
Use professional methods of communication that are tailored to different situations, and individual and team needs.
Manages own time and workload, prioritising tasks.
Maintain and rotate stock according to life cycle and business processes.
Ensure equipment and technology faults and maintenance issues are reported promptly.
Check customers are satisfied with products and services through questioning and act on feedback in line with business procedures.
Keep up to date with changes to products and processes.
Uses feedback to improve own performance.
Reduces the waste of resources, taking sustainability into account, in line with business expectations.
Follows and supports equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and principles.
Participate in team briefings, implementing instructions, and offering input or feedback where relevant.

Your training plan

All training for this apprenticeship will take place in your workplace. A dedicated Vocational Trainer will visit approximately once every four weeks to create a personalised learning and development plan, setting out a schedule of training activities and objectives.
You will complete a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job training, including workshops, face-to-face sessions, and the development of a portfolio of practical evidence. You’ll receive ongoing support from your colleagues, along with continuous mentoring and training to help you develop a wide range of food and beverage service skills.
Your progress will be reviewed every 8 to 12 weeks with your Manager and Trainer.

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 3/D)
Maths (grade 3/D)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Customer care skills
Problem solving skills
Presentation skills
Number skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
Non judgemental
Patience
Professional
Smartly presented
Keen to learn
Friendly
Talkative
Outgoing
Awareness of food safety

Other requirements

The Black Horse Inn is located in the rural village of Donnington on Bain – Main Road, Donington on Bain, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN11 9TJ. Please check the location and ensure you would be able to reliably travel to and from work on a daily basis.

About this company

The Black Horse Inn is a charming 18th-century country pub with rooms, nestled in the picturesque village of Donington on Bain in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds (a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). A family run pub, owned and managed by Adam and Victoria Garnade since 2015, the inn is known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and strong ties to the local community. Adam, a classically trained chef with experience across the UK and Europe, leads the kitchen with a passion for using fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. The menu changes regularly and includes daily specials, offering a fantastic opportunity to learn a wide range of techniques and styles. The pub is also known for its excellent real ales and wines, with produce from nine local microbreweries regularly featured. With eight comfortable en-suite rooms, the inn is popular with visitors exploring the area, attending local events, or visiting attractions such as Cadwell Park and Market Rasen Racecourse. The Black Horse prides itself on exceptional food, great service, and a supportive team environment.

http://blackhorse-donington.co.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

This apprenticeship programme provides a fantastic opportunity for apprentices to build a strong foundation of food and beverage service skills. The apprenticeship will lead to a permanent job role, and possible internal progression for the right candidates.

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