
Steward Course
Launch a professional stewarding career with the skills employers in hospitality actually demand. This course covers food safety, chemical handling, equipment maintenance, waste management, and banquet support from the ground up. Whether you're entering the industry or formalising what you already know, you'll finish ready to perform at a high standard on day one.
What you will learn:
This course gives you a complete, practical foundation in professional stewarding. You will learn how to maintain food safety and hygiene standards, handle cleaning chemicals safely, and operate commercial dishwashing equipment correctly. You will also develop skills in waste segregation, manual handling, and supporting banquet and service operations. The advanced sections cover quality control, time management, and how to mentor junior team members. By the end, you will have the knowledge and confidence to meet the demands of any professional kitchen environment.
How you study in practice Steward Course
How you practise Steward Course
For companies looking to train their teams
With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your company and its specific needs.
Course content
8 Chapters • 39 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsIntroduction to the Steward Role
Introduction to the Steward Role
Lesson 1 • Professional Standards and Conduct
Defines grooming, punctuality, and behavioural expectations in a professional kitchen. Sets the ethical and conduct baseline for all subsequent training.
Lesson 2 • Core Duties and Daily Responsibilities
Outlines the primary tasks performed each shift, from equipment care to sanitation. Provides a practical framework for daily workflow management.
Lesson 3 • Defining the Steward Profession
Covers the historical evolution and modern definition of stewarding. Anchors the chapter by establishing a clear professional baseline.
Lesson 4 • Workplace Structure and Hierarchy
Maps the organisational chart of a typical hospitality operation. Clarifies reporting lines and interdepartmental relationships relevant to stewards.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsFood Safety and Hygiene Fundamentals
Food Safety and Hygiene Fundamentals
Lesson 1 • Cleaning vs. Sanitising
Distinguishes between cleaning and sanitising as separate, sequential steps. Teaches correct product selection and application for each process.
Lesson 2 • Personal Hygiene in Food Areas
Details handwashing technique, protective clothing, and illness reporting. Directly links individual behaviour to food safety outcomes.
Lesson 3 • Regulatory Compliance and Documentation
Covers food hygiene standards, inspection readiness, and record-keeping duties. Prepares stewards to support compliance audits confidently.
Lesson 4 • Principles of Food Hygiene
Introduces microbiology basics and how pathogens spread in food environments. Grounds all hygiene practices in scientific reasoning.
Lesson 5 • Temperature Control and Storage
Explains safe temperature zones for food storage and the steward's role in monitoring them. Connects temperature discipline to contamination prevention.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsChemical Safety and Handling
Chemical Safety and Handling
Lesson 1 • Personal Protective Equipment for Chemicals
Identifies required PPE for each chemical category and correct donning procedures. Reduces chemical exposure risk during routine cleaning tasks.
Lesson 2 • Safe Storage and Disposal
Establishes rules for segregating, storing, and disposing of chemicals safely. Prevents accidental mixing and environmental contamination.
Lesson 3 • Emergency Response to Chemical Incidents
Prepares stewards to respond to spills, splashes, and inhalation incidents. Connects chemical knowledge to immediate, effective emergency action.
Lesson 4 • Safety Data Sheets and Labelling
Teaches how to read safety data sheets and interpret hazard symbols. Ensures stewards can access critical safety information quickly.
Lesson 5 • Understanding Cleaning Chemicals
Categorises chemicals by function: degreasers, descalers, sanitisers, and disinfectants. Builds product literacy needed for safe daily use.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsEquipment Cleaning and Maintenance
Equipment Cleaning and Maintenance
Lesson 1 • Identifying Kitchen Equipment Types
Surveys cooking, refrigeration, and preparation equipment found in professional kitchens. Establishes the equipment vocabulary needed for all cleaning procedures.
Lesson 2 • Manual Cleaning Procedures
Details hand-cleaning methods for pots, pans, utensils, and surfaces. Builds foundational technique before introducing mechanical cleaning systems.
Lesson 3 • Deep Cleaning Schedules
Introduces periodic deep-cleaning tasks for ovens, fryers, hoods, and drains. Connects scheduled maintenance to hygiene compliance and equipment longevity.
Lesson 4 • Reporting Faults and Defects
Teaches stewards to identify equipment damage and escalate maintenance requests. Prevents safety hazards caused by delayed or unreported repairs.
Lesson 5 • Mechanical Dishwashing Operations
Covers setup, operation, and troubleshooting of commercial dishwashing machines. Ensures efficient throughput and correct sanitisation results.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsWaste Management and Sustainability
Waste Management and Sustainability
Lesson 1 • Food Waste Reduction Strategies
Introduces portion control, stock rotation, and prep waste minimisation techniques. Connects steward actions directly to cost savings and sustainability targets.
Lesson 2 • Segregation and Bin Management
Establishes correct bin placement, labelling, and liner use for each waste stream. Reduces cross-contamination and supports efficient waste collection.
Lesson 3 • Sustainability Practices in Stewarding
Explores water conservation, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly product choices. Positions the steward as an active contributor to green operations.
Lesson 4 • Waste Disposal Regulations
Covers legal obligations for disposing of food, chemical, and recyclable waste. Prepares stewards to handle waste in full regulatory compliance.
Lesson 5 • Waste Streams in the Kitchen
Identifies food, recyclable, hazardous, and general waste categories. Provides the classification knowledge required for correct segregation.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsWorkplace Health and Safety
Workplace Health and Safety
Lesson 1 • Fire Safety in the Kitchen
Covers fire triangle principles, prevention habits, and extinguisher selection. Prepares stewards to prevent fires and act correctly if one occurs.
Lesson 2 • Safe Manual Handling Techniques
Teaches correct lifting, carrying, and pushing techniques for heavy kitchen loads. Reduces musculoskeletal injury risk during routine stewarding tasks.
Lesson 3 • Identifying Workplace Hazards
Categorises physical, chemical, biological, and ergonomic hazards in kitchen settings. Builds the risk awareness foundation for all safety practices.
Lesson 4 • Risk Assessment Basics
Introduces the five-step risk assessment process applied to stewarding tasks. Enables stewards to evaluate and mitigate hazards proactively.
Lesson 5 • Accident Reporting and First Aid
Establishes procedures for reporting injuries and providing basic first aid support. Ensures stewards respond to incidents in a timely, documented manner.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsService Support and Banquet Operations
Service Support and Banquet Operations
Lesson 1 • Replenishment During Service
Teaches real-time monitoring and restocking of supplies during active service. Builds the responsiveness needed to prevent service interruptions.
Lesson 2 • Understanding Service Flow
Maps the sequence of events from kitchen production to guest service. Helps stewards anticipate needs and position themselves effectively.
Lesson 3 • Post-Service Cleaning and Reset
Establishes efficient post-service cleaning sequences and reset procedures. Prepares stewards to restore the operation quickly for the next service.
Lesson 4 • Banquet Setup and Breakdown
Details the physical setup of banquet equipment, chafing dishes, and service lines. Connects proper setup to guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Lesson 5 • Linen and Tableware Management
Covers sorting, counting, storing, and issuing linen and tableware for service. Ensures adequate supply and quality control before each event.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsAdvanced Stewarding and Quality Standards
Advanced Stewarding and Quality Standards
Lesson 1 • Training and Mentoring Junior Stewards
Introduces on-the-job training methods and peer coaching techniques. Prepares experienced stewards to develop the skills of newer team members.
Lesson 2 • Performance Review and Goal Setting
Guides stewards through self-evaluation, feedback reception, and goal-setting cycles. Builds a growth mindset and long-term career development orientation.
Lesson 3 • Time Management and Prioritisation
Develops task prioritisation and time-blocking skills for high-pressure shifts. Builds the self-management capacity needed for senior stewarding roles.
Lesson 4 • Continuous Improvement Practices
Applies basic process improvement tools to identify and eliminate recurring problems. Positions stewards as proactive contributors to operational excellence.
Lesson 5 • Quality Control in Stewarding
Defines quality benchmarks for cleanliness, equipment condition, and service readiness. Enables stewards to self-audit against measurable standards.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
First-time job seekers: looking for a structured entry point into hospitality work.
Informal kitchen workers: performing stewarding tasks without any formal training or recognition.
Career changers: drawn to stable, hands-on roles within the food service industry.
Hospitality students: wanting practical operational knowledge to complement academic coursework.
Returning workers: re-entering the workforce and building confidence through certified skill development.
Venue and catering staff: supporting events without a clear understanding of professional stewarding standards.
What our students say
Your lessons are perfect. I purchased the one-year package and finally have the opportunity to follow various topics of interest without needing to change platforms... I'm grateful for everything you do, I've already recommended you to other people...

I like how the lessons are straight to the point and how I can change chapters and skip content I don't need.

I like the content and the way videos are presented and transcribed, which speeds up the process!

The platform is fast, simple to use. The diversity of content and complementary videos really help with learning.

Top qualifications
FAQ
Who is Dedika?
Is the certificate valid in South Africa?
Are the courses free?
What is the course workload?
What are the courses like?
How do the courses work?
What is the duration of the courses?
What is the cost or price of the courses?
What is an EAD or online course and how does it work?
PDF Course




















