The Food Preparation and Nutrition GCSE combines the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating.
It helps you develop cooking techniques, as well as knowledge of food traditions and kitchen safety.
The course gives you a range of skills, like planning and organising, working independently, understanding and applying science and even creative skills.
It can lead to a wide range of careers. For example you could be designing new ice cream flavours, or working in a hotel, restaurant or tourist attraction.
You could also be working in distribution or retail for a supermarket or advising people about healthy eating as a nutritionist. Food tech combines well with biology, chemistry and business studies.
Selection of jobs using the subject Food (GCSE only)
- Agricultural engineer
- Baker
- Barista
- Butcher
- Catering manager
- Chef
- Farmer
- Food factory worker
- Food manufacturing inspector
- Food packaging operative
- Food scientist
- Head chef
- Hotel manager
- Meat process worker
- Nutritional therapist
- Nutritionist
- Packaging technologist
- Restaurant manager
- Street food trader
Do a free, short, online course to find out more about food (looks great on your CV too!)

Or view other free online courses related to food
Examples of apprenticeships that relate to food:
- Food technologist - Level:3 (equivalent to A levels at grades A to E). Typical length:36 months
- Food and Drink Advanced Engineer - Level:6 (equivalent to bachelor's degree). Typical length:60 months
- Food and drink maintenance engineer - Level:3 (equivalent to A levels at grades A to E). Typical length:36 months
- Advanced butcher - Level:3 (equivalent to A levels at grades A to E). Typical length:22 months
- Commis chef - Level:2 (equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* to C). Typical length:12 months
- Senior chef production cooking - Level:3 (equivalent to A levels at grades A to E). Typical length:12 months
- Hospitality team member - Level:2 (equivalent to GCSEs at grades A* to C). Typical length:12 months
Click to find apprenticeship vacancies available now related to food
Watch a short film about Food and Nutrition apprenticeships here.
Examples of vocational courses at college
Examples of degree courses that relate to food:
To see other degree courses related to food
BBC Bitesize Career Videos
You can watch a great series of videos of young people who are working in jobs that use food the BBC Bitesize website.