Level 2 Award in Culinary Skills

1. Introduction to Culinary Skills Overview of professional kitchens, roles, and responsibilities.

2. Food Safety and Hygiene in Culinary Practice HACCP basics, hygiene standards, and safe food handling.

3. Knife Skills and Basic Food Preparation Safe handling, cutting techniques, and preparation of ingredients.

4. Cooking Methods and Techniques Boiling, steaming, roasting, grilling, frying, and baking.

5. Stocks, Sauces, and Soups Preparation of classical bases and their applications.

6. Vegetable, Meat, and Poultry Dishes Preparation and cooking of core ingredients to industry standards.

7. Fish and Seafood Preparation Cleaning, filleting, and cooking seafood safely and effectively.

8. Culinary Presentation and Garnishing Plating techniques, portion control, and visual appeal.

9. Menu Planning and Basic Nutrition Designing balanced menus with nutritional considerations.

10. Teamwork and Communication in the Kitchen Working effectively in a brigade system and maintaining kitchen discipline.

• Builds competence in essential culinary techniques and food preparation

• Enhances compliance with food safety and hygiene legislation

• Strengthens skills in teamwork, communication, and kitchen discipline

• Provides tools for menu planning, presentation, and nutrition awareness

• Offers recognized certification to support entry‑level careers in catering and hospitality

• Entry‑level kitchen staff and apprentices

• Catering and hospitality workers seeking foundational culinary training

• Individuals progressing from basic food safety into culinary practice

• Aspiring chefs preparing for advanced culinary qualifications

• Assessment Type: Written exam + practical culinary assessment

• Format: MCQs, short answers, and hands‑on cooking tasks

• Total Questions: 40 theory + 1 practical assessment

• Passing Score: 70%

• Duration: 2 days (12–16 hours total)

• Certification: Level 2 Award in Culinary Skills (CULS)

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.