WSH 5 Year Hospitality Apprenticeship Journey 2026

We’re obsessed about food and people; we understand the importance of inspiring others and supporting development. 

If you’re looking for a career that offers flexibility, excitement, and progression, then a career in Food Service could be for you! At WSH our career opportunities span industries from motorsport, schools, retail fashion to museums within roles across operations, marketing, people development, and more. We offer a 5 Year Hospitality Journey linked to 3 Apprenticeships which allows you to combine on-the-job experience, working at one of our impressive client locations, with blended studying 20% of the week with our apprenticeship provider.

Our 5 Year Hospitality Apprenticeship Journey aims to set you up for success, support you whilst developing your skills and to help you achieve your career aspirations. We have a skilled team that are eager to share their knowledge and provide you with the practical and theoretical knowledge to craft a career in hospitality management.

We are the UK’s largest independent hospitality food service business, employing more than 30,000 people. Our focus is on delighting our clients and customers and keeping our people happy and engaged. We don’t offer jobs – we offer career opportunities, working across many exciting sectors, with a competitive salary.

Our heritage is built on the culinary expertise and the professional training and development of our people.

We have opportunities through-out England.

We’re recruiting ambitious young people to join our Hospitality Apprenticeship Journey – a structured, paid route from entry-level hospitality roles into senior leadership and management.

This isn’t a short-term job. It’s a long-term career pathway, designed to develop the next generation of hospitality leaders through real experience, professional training, and nationally recognised qualifications.

From day one, you’ll be a valued employee, earning a salary while gaining hands-on experience across our business and completing fully funded apprenticeship qualifications.

The Programme – Your Career Journey

This is a 5-year leadership development programme, made up of three progressive apprenticeships:

✅ Level 3 – Supervising Hospitality (Approx. 8 months)

• Learn how to lead shifts and motivate teams
• Build strong customer service and operational skills
• Develop confidence, communication, and decision-making
• Typical entry age: 16–19

✅ Level 5 – Hospitality Operations Manager (Approx. 15 months)

• Manage departments and services
• Learn commercial awareness and service improvement
• Lead teams across different areas of the business
• Typical entry age: 18–20

✅ Level 7 – Senior Hospitality Leader (Approx. 24 months)

• Develop strategic leadership and long-term planning skills
• Learn to manage large teams, budgets, and change
• Prepare for senior management roles
• Complete the programme as a Chartered Manager (CMgr)
• Typical entry age: Under 22

At the end of the programme, you’ll be a fully accredited Chartered Manager with the CMI – without any university debt.

What will you be doing?

• Working full-time in our hospitality operation
• Gaining experience across different departments (e.g. food & beverage, events, operations, guest services)
• Taking part in structured training, workshops, and projects
• Completing paid “off-the-job” training as part of your working week
• Receiving 1-to-1 coaching and mentoring
• Building a professional portfolio and completing nationally recognised assessments

What We’re Looking For

We’re not looking for experience – we’re looking for potential.

You might be:

• A school or college leaver
• Someone already working part-time in hospitality
• Motivated, reliable, and keen to learn
• Interested in leadership, management, and progression
• Confident communicating with people and working in a team

No previous qualifications or hospitality experience are required – just commitment and a positive attitude.

Course title: 5 Year Hospitality Apprenticeship Journey

Location: London

Start date: September 2026

Salary: £16,000 per annum 

Other Benefits include the following: 

• Pension
• life assurance cover
• birthday holiday (brand dependent)
• volunteering days (brand dependent)
• wellbeing hub
• external discounts
• cycle to work scheme

Permanent work contract for the duration of study

Why Choose This Programme?

University isn’t the only route to success.

This programme allows you to:

• Earn while you learn
• Avoid student debt
• Gain real leadership experience
• Build a long-term career in hospitality

If you want more than “just a job” and are serious about your future, this is your opportunity.

Interested? Even if you don’t meet all requirements, we’d like to hear from you. If you are motivated and hungry to learn, we can work together to develop your potential.

We are proud to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We celebrate individuality and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from people of all ages, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, races, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds.

WSH is committed to encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED&I) among our workforce and aim for our workforce to be truly representative of all sections of society, and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To support our commitment to this we have set ourselves an ambition to ‘set the standard and to be recognised for having the most inclusive culture in hospitality’.

Join us and bring your unique perspective to our team.