Restaurant manager
Run a restaurant so customers can enjoy delicious food and good service, and the business makes a profit.
About the job
What it's like
You would run a restaurant so that customers can enjoy delicious food and good service. You’d be responsible for making sure that the restaurant runs efficiently and makes a profit.
You could work in:
Hotels
Small independent restaurants
Restaurants that are part of a large chain
Fast food outlets
You would:
Advertise vacancies and recruit staff
Make sure staff are fully trained
Keep staff motivated to provide the highest standard of service
Organise staff shifts and rotas
Order supplies
Monitor and control finances
Ensure strict hygiene, health and safety rules are followed
If you own the restaurant, you would work closely with the chef to select recipes and create menus.
Hours
Your working hours would include evenings, weekends and public holidays. Shift work and split shifts (working mornings and evenings, with time off in the afternoon) are common. Overtime may often be required around important events, for example Christmas or Easter.
Environment
You would usually be based indoors, splitting your time between the front of the restaurant and the kitchen.
Travel
There may be travel involved for meetings or to provide cover for other restaurants within the same company.
Explore more information about this job
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- restaurant operation
- restaurant management
- well control
- reputation management
- hospitality management
- employee satisfaction
- motivational leadership
- hotel management
- supply management
- guest relations
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- motivating others
- making decisions
- delegating
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- problem solving
- verbal communication
- cooperating
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Business Management
Food Health and Wellbeing
Hospitality: Practical Cookery (Home economics)
Skills for Work: Hospitality
Foundation Apprenticeship: Business Skills
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You would need a Higher National Diploma (SCQF level 8) or a degree (SCQF level 9/10) in hospitality management or business. Or relevant work-based experience and qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Hospitality: Supervision and Leadership (SVQ level 3) or Institute of Hospitality Certificate or Diploma.
You can enter Higher National Certificate (SCQF level 7) or Higher National Diploma courses (SCQF level 8) with National 4/5 qualifications and one to two Highers or equivalent qualifications.
To enter a degree (SCQF level 9/10) usually requires National 5 qualifications and a minimum of threeHighers or a relevant HNC/HND.
Qualifications and experience that show an understanding of the industry, customer care and management skills such as Skills for Work Hospitality (SCQF level 4/5).
Relevant work-based qualifications such as Scottish Vocational Qualifications in Hospitality (SVQ level 2/3/4) or Management (SVQ level 3/4/5).
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