Course
How to Start a Food Truck Business in the UK
Go from idea to first service in four stages. Twelve self-paced modules, made around real food trucks photographed by the TeamChefs team.
About this course
Want to be trading by spring? This course takes you from a first idea to your first service, one stage at a time. It follows the real trading calendar, so each stage lands when you need it.
Who it is for
Aspiring food truck owners and street food traders who want a clear plan, the right licences and a brand customers remember. You do not need any business experience. Start where you are.
How it works
- Join the list. Tell us where you are. It takes about a minute.
- Try Unit 1.1 free. See how a unit feels before you commit.
- Enrol in November. Full enrolment opens then, one stage at a time after that.
The course has a simple shape: a title, modules, and short units inside each module. Every unit ends with a short digital check-in, so you can see your next steps.
Made to work for different minds
The course is neurodiversity-affirming and built on Universal Design for Learning. It uses generous white space, short paragraphs and bold key terms. Read it aloud, use a screen reader, or change the font and colours to suit you. There is no time pressure. Pause whenever you need.
This course is educational guidance, not legal, tax, insurance or food safety advice. Licensing rules, fees and council requirements vary by area and change over time, so always check with your own council before you buy a vehicle or book a pitch.
Gazebo, trailer or van?
Which set-up would you start with? Watch six street food set-ups at Surrey Street Market, Croydon. Module 6 helps you choose and equip your own.
Croydon Food Trucks: Gazebo, Trailer or Van?
Six street food set-ups at Surrey Street Market, Croydon, from a simple gazebo to a fully converted van.
Credentials and awards
App Expert of the Year 2020 Apps for Good
UEL Tech Innovator Award 
Book Creator Ambassador 
ThingLink Certified Creator 
ThingLink Certified XR Expert 
Adobe VR Course 
Adobe Creative Educator Level 2 - Expert Mentor since 2020 Apps for Good
What you’ll learn
5 outcomes
A tested concept
Turn a passion for food into a clear, tested business idea before you spend a penny.
A business plan and budget
See what it really costs to start, and where the money can come from.
A licence checklist
Get licences and registrations right early, so everything else runs smoothly.
Safe food, every service
Cover the hygiene, allergen and waste rules every trader must follow.
A brand people remember
Build a brand customers recognise, remember and return to.
Try it free
Free taster
Unit 1.1: The Rise of Street Food in the UK
A free look at the first unit. See how the street food scene grew and why a truck is such a smart, low-risk way in.
Taster video coming soon.
In the meantime, the curriculum below shows everything the course covers.
Curriculum
12 modules
- Stage 1: Plan it November to December Modules 1, 2, 4, 5
- Stage 2: Fund it January to February Modules 3, 6
- Stage 3: Build it February to March Modules 7, 8, 9
- Stage 4: Launch it March to April Modules 10, 11, 12
Modules arrive stage by stage, so their numbers do not run in order. For example, Module 3 on licences arrives in January, after you have planned your money and pitches. Module 1 is open so you can see how a module is built, and Unit 1.1 is the free taster. The rest unlock when you enrol.
Stage 1: Plan it November to December
Module 1 Introduction to the UK Food Truck Industry 4 units
Before you spend a penny, understand the market you are joining and why a truck is such a smart, low-risk way in.
- 1.1 The Rise of Street Food in the UK Free taster: The Rise of Street Food in the UK
- 1.2 Why Start a Food Truck?
- 1.3 Key Success Factors
- 1.4 Course Structure and How to Use It
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Module 2 Business Planning and Concept Development 4 units
A great food truck starts on paper. Turn a passion for food into a clear, tested business idea.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 4 Funding and Finance 3 units
Know your numbers. See what it really costs to start and where the money can come from.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 5 Finding and Securing Trading Locations 4 units
Location is everything on wheels. Learn how to find, price and secure pitches that pay.
Unlocks when you enrol
Stage 2: Fund it January to February
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Module 3 Legal Requirements and Licensing 5 units
Licences are the gatekeepers to trading. Get them right early and everything else runs smoothly.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 6 Vehicle and Equipment 4 units
Your truck is your kitchen, shop window and biggest investment. Choose it with your menu in mind.
Unlocks when you enrol
Stage 3: Build it February to March
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Module 7 Food Safety and Hygiene 5 units
Safe food builds trust. Cover the hygiene, allergen and waste rules every trader must follow.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 8 Operations and Staffing 4 units
Smooth service turns queues into profit. Build daily routines, a strong team and simple systems.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 9 Marketing and Branding 4 units
People buy why, not what. Build a brand customers recognise, remember and return to.
Unlocks when you enrol
Stage 4: Launch it March to April
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Module 10 Financial Management 4 units
Profit lives in the detail. Price smartly, control costs and stay on the right side of HMRC.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 11 Growth and Scaling 4 units
Once the first truck works, it can become a fleet, a catering arm, or even a restaurant.
Unlocks when you enrol
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Module 12 Resources and Next Steps 4 units
Pull it all together: key contacts, suppliers and the final checklist before your first service.
Unlocks when you enrol