Chefs can look forward to wage hikes well above the national average over the next 14 years, according to training provider City & Guilds (C&G).

The C&G's Future Earnings survey showed that high-flying vocational workers are set for a golden era as employers put more emphasis on practical skills.

Chefs and cooks are predicted to enjoy above-average annual salary growth of 3.43% until 2020, compared with a national average of 3%.

However, restaurant and catering managers should see their average pay packets grow at a rate below the national average, just 2.83%, to £35,680 over the same period.

Top of the vocational tree will be those in the leisure club industry, where leisure and sports managers can look forward to salary growth of a whopping 6.82% to £79,890.

Predicted average earnings by 2020

By Chris Druce