Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship (v1.0)

• Product code

  FA0008 v1.0 - 610/7495/0

• Grades

  Fail or Pass

• Fee

  Multiple-Choice Assessment (AO-assessed) - TBC Observation with Questions and Answers - TBC

Typical duration: 8 months

Status: Approved for delivery from 1^st April 2026 (please note Apprentices must normally be aged 16 to 21 when they start. Exceptions may apply under the current apprenticeship funding rules.)

The Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship provides younger people with an introduction to a range of occupations across the catering and hospitality sector.

Catering and hospitality assistants may work in hotels, restaurants, cafés, holiday parks, schools, hospitals and other settings where food, drink and hospitality services are provided.

The apprentice will develop broad technical knowledge and practical skills in areas such as food preparation, food and beverage service, customer experience, communication, stock use, food safety and workplace health and safety.

Alongside their technical development, apprentices will build transferable employability skills and behaviours that support their progression into employment, further training or a more specialised Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship.

The Assessments

The Foundation Apprenticeship will include two assessment methods:

• Multiple Choice Test
• Observation with Q&A

Assessment may take place at appropriate points or milestones during the programme. It does not need to be reserved until the end of the Foundation Apprenticeship.

The Observation with Q&A may be assessed:

• directly by BIIAB, or
• by an approved Centre, subject to BIIAB’s approval and quality assurance requirements.

The Multiple-Choice Test will be set and marked by BIIAB.

Further information about the observation requirements, permitted activities, evidence, questioning, timings and assessment criteria will be published in the Assessment Specification and supporting guidance.

The apprenticeship standard and assessment plan can be found here Catering and hospitality foundation apprenticeship / Skills England

Gateway to Completion Requirements

Before completion of the Foundation Apprenticeship can be confirmed:

• all required apprenticeship assessments must have been completed as above,
• the apprentice must meet the English and mathematics qualification requirements that apply under the current apprenticeship funding rules,
• the employer must confirm that the apprentice has suitably demonstrated the required employability skills and behaviours during the programme, and
• any other completion requirements set out in the foundation apprenticeship standard, assessment plan or BIIAB Awards assessment specification must have been met.

Get in touch to find out more

For further information about the Catering and Hospitality Foundation Apprenticeship, registering apprentices or working with BIIAB, contact our team by email or call 0115 854 1620 (Option 4).

BIIAB can provide the full assessment service, including delivery and marking of both the Multiple-Choice Test and Observation with Q&A. Alternatively, eligible training providers can apply to become an approved Centre and assess the Observation with Q&A, while the Multiple-Choice Test continues to be set and marked by BIIAB.