5435 Cooks
Unit group 5435 in the ONS Standard Occupational Classification 2020, with the line the Appendix Skilled Occupations gives it. Not immigration advice.
In short
- ONS unit group 5435, in minor group 543 (Food preparation and hospitality trades) and major group 5 (Skilled trades occupations).
- Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Not on the list: Table 6.
- Going rate as the tables print it:
What the ONS says
Description
Cooks prepare, season and cook food, often using pre-prepared ingredients, in clubs, private households, fast food outlets, shops selling food cooked on the premises and the catering departments and canteens of other establishments.
Typical entry routes
There are no formal academic requirements. Training is provided off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Food Preparation and Cooking are available at levels 1, 2 and 3. Apprenticeships are also available.
Tasks
- requisitions or purchases foodstuffs and checks quality
- plans meals, prepares, seasons and cooks foodstuffs
- cooks and sells a range of meals, such as fish and chips, over the counter
- plans and co-ordinates kitchen work such as fetching, clearing and cleaning of equipment and utensils
Related job titles
- Cook
- Cook-supervisor
- Fish fryer
- Head cook
What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says
The Appendix lists this code in the table below, with the table’s own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.
Table 6: SOC 2020 occupation codes which are not eligible for the Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility or Scale-up routes
- SOC 2020 occupation code
- 5435 Cooks
- Examples of related job titles (non-exhaustive)
- Cook
- Cook-supervisor
- Fish fryer
- Head cook
Other unit groups in minor group 543
- 5431 Butchers
- 5432 Bakers and flour confectioners
- 5433 Fishmongers and poultry dressers
- 5434 Chefs
- 5436 Catering and bar managers
Sources
Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.
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