Baker

As a baker, you could:

• weigh and mix ingredients by hand or using machinery
• bake bread, cakes and patisserie products in batches
• decorate and finish baked items ready for dispatch or shop display
• make quality and food safety checks
• stocktake and order supplies
• develop new recipes and products

• knowledge of food production methods
• the ability to work well with your hands
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• maths knowledge
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role

With experience, you could become a bakery supervisor or production manager in a factory, or move into commercial sales.

You could also become a technical adviser or development baker for a baked goods or catering equipment company.

Another option is to specialise, for example in patisserie, or become an artisan craft baker and set up your own business.