Baker

Imagine starting the day before most people wake up – mixing dough, shaping loaves and filling bakeries with the smell of fresh bread. As a baker, you’ll combine traditional techniques with modern equipment to produce a wide range of baked goods, from crusty loaves to celebration cakes.

You’ll work in places such as independent bakeries, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants or large-scale food production sites. Some bakers focus on handcrafted, small-batch products, while others help supply thousands of customers every day. No matter the setting, your work plays a key role in feeding communities and bringing a bit of joy to people’s routines.

Baking is hands-on and fast-paced. You’ll need to manage time carefully, follow recipes accurately and adjust mixes based on texture, temperature and taste. It’s a role where attention to detail really matters, and where you can take pride in seeing – and tasting – the results of your work.

Your tasks might include:

• mixing, kneading and shaping dough for breads, rolls and other baked products

• baking items using ovens and other equipment, adjusting times and temperatures as needed

• preparing fillings, toppings and glazes for pastries and cakes

• decorating baked goods to a high standard for display or sale

• checking the quality, texture and appearance of finished products

• developing or adapting recipes to create new or seasonal items

• The Federation of Bakers – learn more about careers in the baking industry

• National Food & Drink Training – find a work-based learning programme