Working in hospitality means juggling a lot of responsibilities — from delivering great customer service to keeping a clean and safe workspace. Behind the scenes, compliance training plays a huge role in making sure that staff, customers, and businesses are protected.
But with so many certificates available, it can be difficult to know which ones actually matter. Which are legally required? Which will make you stand out to employers? Which will help you progress in your career?
In this guide, we list the 10 compliance certificates that every hospitality worker should have — whether you are a chef, a bar manager, a front-of-house supervisor, or just starting out in the industry. The good news? All of them are available through Chefs Bay Academy, included in a single £29 licence.
1. Food Hygiene Level 2
Why it matters: Food Hygiene Level 2 is the single most important certification for anyone who handles food. It covers the essentials — food safety hazards, contamination prevention, storage temperatures, personal hygiene, cleaning, and the legal requirements that apply to food handlers.
Who needs it: Chefs, kitchen porters, catering assistants, front-of-house staff who serve food, bar staff who prepare food, and anyone working in a food environment.
What employers expect: Most hospitality employers treat Food Hygiene Level 2 as a mandatory requirement for kitchen and food service roles. Local authority inspectors expect to see evidence that food handlers have been trained to this level.
Duration: 4-5 hours, self-paced online.
2. Allergen Awareness
Why it matters: Since the introduction of Natasha’s Law in October 2021, allergen management has been under greater scrutiny than ever. Allergen Awareness training teaches you to identify the 14 major allergens, prevent cross-contamination, and communicate allergen information accurately to customers.
Who needs it: Every member of staff who handles, prepares, or serves food — from kitchen staff to front-of-house, bar, and retail workers.
What employers expect: Allergen training is increasingly treated as mandatory alongside food hygiene. Businesses that fail to manage allergens properly face unlimited fines and, in the most serious cases, criminal prosecution.
Duration: 2-3 hours, self-paced online.
3. HACCP Level 2
Why it matters: HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) is the internationally recognised system for managing food safety risks. HACCP Level 2 gives you a working understanding of hazard analysis, critical control points, monitoring, and corrective actions — knowledge that is essential for anyone working in a food safety environment.
Who needs it: Chefs, kitchen supervisors, food production operatives, catering managers, and anyone involved in food safety management.
What employers expect: UK food businesses are legally required to have HACCP-based food safety procedures. Having HACCP-trained staff demonstrates compliance and strengthens your business’s due diligence position.
Duration: 3-4 hours, self-paced online.
4. Fire Safety
Why it matters: Fire safety training is a legal requirement for all workplaces under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In hospitality environments — with commercial kitchens, hot equipment, flammable materials, and high footfall — fire risks are particularly significant.
Who needs it: Every employee. The law requires that all staff are given adequate fire safety training, including how to raise the alarm, evacuate safely, and use fire extinguishers.
What employers expect: Fire safety training is mandatory. Employers must ensure all staff are trained when they start and whenever there are significant changes to fire risks or procedures.
Duration: 1 hour, self-paced online.
5. Manual Handling
Why it matters: Manual handling injuries account for a significant proportion of workplace injuries in the UK. In hospitality, staff regularly lift heavy pots, move stock, carry trays, and shift furniture. Proper manual handling training teaches safe lifting techniques and risk assessment to prevent injuries.
Who needs it: Anyone who lifts, carries, pushes, or pulls objects as part of their job — which in hospitality means almost everyone, from kitchen staff to events teams and housekeeping.
What employers expect: Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, employers must ensure staff are trained in safe manual handling practices. This certificate is commonly requested for back-of-house and events roles.
Duration: 1-2 hours, self-paced online.
6. Health and Safety
Why it matters: General health and safety training provides an overview of workplace hazards, risk assessment, accident reporting, and your rights and responsibilities as an employee. It forms the foundation that more specific courses (fire safety, manual handling, COSHH) build upon.
Who needs it: All employees. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on employers to provide information, instruction, and training to ensure workplace safety.
What employers expect: A basic health and safety certificate is one of the most commonly requested qualifications in hospitality job listings. It shows you understand the fundamentals of keeping yourself and others safe at work.
Duration: 1-2 hours, self-paced online.
7. First Aid Awareness
Why it matters: Accidents happen, and being prepared to respond can make the difference between a minor incident and a serious one. First Aid Awareness covers the basics — how to assess an emergency, perform CPR, treat burns, manage bleeding, and support someone having a seizure or allergic reaction.
Who needs it: While not every employee needs to be a designated first aider, having a broad awareness of first aid is valuable for anyone working in a fast-paced environment. Hospitality venues deal with burns, cuts, slips, and customer medical emergencies regularly.
What employers expect: Employers are required to have adequate first aid provision. Staff with first aid awareness training are an asset, particularly in customer-facing roles.
Duration: 3-5 hours, self-paced online.
8. COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
Why it matters: Hospitality workers handle cleaning chemicals, sanitisers, descalers, and other potentially hazardous substances daily. COSHH training teaches you how to store, use, and dispose of these substances safely, how to read safety data sheets, and what to do in case of exposure.
Who needs it: Kitchen staff, cleaning teams, bar staff, housekeeping — anyone who uses or is exposed to chemical products at work.
What employers expect: The COSHH Regulations 2002 require employers to assess risks from hazardous substances and ensure staff are trained. A COSHH certificate demonstrates you know how to handle workplace chemicals safely.
Duration: 1 hour (COSHH Awareness for Hospitality) or 2-3 hours (general COSHH), self-paced online.
9. Food Safety Level 3
Why it matters: If you are in a supervisory or management role, Food Safety Level 3 takes your food safety knowledge to the next level. It covers advanced food safety management, HACCP implementation, staff training responsibilities, and how to develop and maintain food safety systems.
Who needs it: Head chefs, kitchen managers, catering managers, food safety officers, and anyone responsible for overseeing food safety compliance in a business.
What employers expect: Level 3 is the expected standard for supervisory and management roles in hospitality. Having it on your CV signals that you are ready for leadership responsibility.
Duration: 7-9 hours, self-paced online.
10. Personal Hygiene
Why it matters: It might seem basic, but personal hygiene is one of the most common areas where food businesses fall short during inspections. Personal Hygiene and Presentation training covers handwashing, appropriate workwear, illness reporting, and the behaviours expected of food handlers.
Who needs it: Every food handler. This is particularly useful as part of induction training for new starters, reinforcing habits that prevent contamination and demonstrate professionalism.
What employers expect: Proper personal hygiene is a fundamental expectation in any food environment. While it is covered within Food Hygiene Level 2, a standalone personal hygiene course provides focused, reinforced training.
Duration: 15 minutes, self-paced online.
Get All 10 Certificates (and 120+ More) for £29
Here is the best part: every one of these 10 certificates is included in a single Chefs Bay Academy licence. For £29, you get access to all 10 courses listed above — plus over 120 additional courses covering workplace compliance, social care, IT skills, and more.
There are no hidden fees, no per-course charges, and no upsells. One licence, one price, full access to the entire library for 12 months.
Whether you are building your CV for your first hospitality role or ensuring your team has every compliance certificate they need, Chefs Bay Academy is the most affordable way to get trained and certified.
| Certificate | Duration | Included? |
|---|---|---|
| Food Hygiene Level 2 | 4-5 hours | Yes |
| Allergen Awareness | 2-3 hours | Yes |
| HACCP Level 2 | 3-4 hours | Yes |
| Fire Safety | 1 hour | Yes |
| Manual Handling | 1-2 hours | Yes |
| Health and Safety | 1-2 hours | Yes |
| First Aid Awareness | 3-5 hours | Yes |
| COSHH | 1-3 hours | Yes |
| Food Safety Level 3 | 7-9 hours | Yes |
| Personal Hygiene | 15 minutes | Yes |
| Total training time | ~25-35 hours | All for £29 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all 10 certificates to work in hospitality?
Not necessarily all 10, but most hospitality employers will expect you to have at least Food Hygiene Level 2, Allergen Awareness, and Fire Safety as a minimum. The more certificates you hold, the stronger your CV and the more roles you will be eligible for. Since all 10 are included in a single £29 licence, there is no reason not to complete them all.
How long would it take to complete all 10 courses?
The total study time across all 10 courses is approximately 25 to 35 hours. Because all courses are self-paced, you can spread this across weeks or months — fitting study around your shifts and other commitments. Many learners complete two or three courses per week.
Are these certificates recognised by employers?
Yes. All Chefs Bay Academy courses are CPD accredited. The certificates are widely accepted by hospitality employers, recruitment agencies, and local authority inspectors. They carry the same weight as certificates earned through classroom training.
Can my employer buy licences for the whole team?
Yes. Licences are individual (one per person, £29 each), and each team member can complete courses at their own pace. For team enquiries, contact us at workwithus@chefsbay.co.uk.
All these courses are included in your Chefs Bay Academy licence — £29 for instant access to 130+ courses.