A-levels or BTEC?

Question

My daughter is currently taking GCSEs and her only wish is to work in the catering industry. As yet she doesn't have a clear idea whether cooking or management would suit her best. What advice can you give regarding the two post-sixteen options that she has - A-levels, including home economics, or a BTEC in hospitality supervision, which includes some practical work? Presumably she could still go on to higher education with a BTEC qualification, but would she also be able to go into the practical side having taken A-levels? Is there a clear career path in catering which would influence her choices at this stage?

What the expert says

Hannah Bailey, chief operating officer, Chess Partnership

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The beauty of this industry is that there are numerous career paths you can take. It is also an industry where experience often speaks louder than qualifications, particularly in the early stages of your career. If, at this stage, your daughter is not sure whether she sees herself in a cooking role or one which will focus on management, I would suggest that the BTEC may offer her a better balance of both sides and would help her decide which path to go down. The BTEC is a good course which offers good grounding in the skills of management, and the practical side is probably more related and relevant to industry than a home economics A-level. She could also gain further qualifications after this course, possibly in a specific area, or get a job in the industry instead. Taking A-levels would certainly not preclude her from a practical-based career, but she may need to gain more experience of this on entering the profession, or in some cases, additional specific practical qualifications. There is no clear-cut path, but the more experience she can gain, the better.