The catering and hospitality sector in Inverness
- Head chef salary (October 2019) in Inverness: £31,150 a year / £14.98 per hour
- Sous chef salary (October 2019) in Inverness: £29,467 a year / £13.12 per hour
- Chef de partie salary (October 2019) in Inverness: £19,978 a year / £9.61 per hour
Standing proud as the unofficial capital of the Scottish Highlands, the ancient cathedral city of Inverness is one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities. And for good reason.
For lovers of the great outdoors, few cities offer a better base for exploration, with majestic highlands and glimmering lochs beckoning visitors in almost every direction. History buffs can survey the splendour of Inverness Castle (the site where Macbeth murdered King Duncan in Shakespeare’s play), while culture vultures will be enthralled by the sights and sounds of Scottish Gaelic heritage.
There’s also the small (or rather large) matter of Loch Ness, which is located to the southwest of the city. This world-famous body of water is renowned for its mythical monster, Nessie. But what’s less known is that it holds more fresh water than all of the lakes in England and Wales combined.
In 2014, a survey described Inverness as the “happiest place in Scotland” and the second happiest in the UK. It’s little wonder that the population has grown by over 10,000 people in little under a decade. In fact, a quarter of all people living in the Highlands call Inverness home.
The UK’s most northerly city, Inverness has actually only had city status since 2000 when it was declared one of Britain’s ‘new millennium cities’. This newfound identity has kickstarted the local economy and helped a small but close-knit food and drink scene flourish. From whisky bars to modern Scottish gourmet restaurants, as well as a host of global cuisines, the vibrant catering and hospitality industry in Inverness is surprisingly varied.
For chefs of all levels looking to upskill, Inverness and the Highlands region is home to a number of training opportunities. The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), for example, offers a Professional Cookery HNC course.
