Cafe Assistant

LAWES AGRICULTURAL TRUST; St Albans; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Generous Pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Free car parking

Job summary

Rothamsted Enterprises is seeking a Café Assistant to support the Rothamsted Campus Café in Harpenden. This permanent part-time role (25 hours per week) offers barista experience and a friendly, customer-focused team environment.

You will work under the Café Supervisor, delivering excellent service, preparing beverages, and ensuring cleanliness and food safety. Prior hospitality experience is preferred, with GCSEs including Maths and English.

Qualifications

• Experience in hospitality or café environments.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to follow procedures and recipes accurately.

Responsibilities

• Deliver excellent customer service and take orders.
• Prepare and serve drinks and food.
• Maintain cleanliness and food safety standards.
• Assist with stock checks and opening/closing procedures.

Skills

Customer service

Team player

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Food hygiene awareness

Education

GCSEs including Maths and English

Job description

Café Assistant

Location: Harpenden, Hertfordshire

Contract: Permanent part-time role, 25 hours per week

Salary: £24,785 pro rata per annum

Are you looking for a customer-facing part-time role in hospitality?

Do you like interacting with people and providing exceptional customer service?

This could be your next opportunity; join our hospitality team.

We are looking for an experienced Café Assistant to support the day-to-day operation of the Rothamsted Enterprises Café based in Harpenden. The position offers an opportunity to develop barista and hospitality skills within a supportive and customer-focused environment.

The Campus Café serves both the Rothamsted community and the wider public, providing high-quality coffee, breakfast, lunch and refreshments in a welcoming environment. Our culture is friendly, supportive, ambitious and customer-focused, with a strong commitment to learning, development and excellence in hospitality.

What you’ll do

Working under the direction of the Café Supervisor. The role focuses on delivering excellent customer service, preparing quality coffee and beverages, maintaining high standards of cleanliness and food safety, and contributing positively to the café team.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Service

• Welcoming and assisting customers in a friendly and professional manner to maintain our welcoming café environment.
• Take orders and process payments accurately using the EPOS system.
• Preparing and serving our quality food and beverages.
• Respond to customer enquiries.

Coffee & Beverage Preparation

• Preparing espresso-based coffees, teas and other drinks.
• Following recipes and maintaining our quality standards
  • Develop barista skills
  • Grinding and dosing coffee
  • Espresso extraction
  • Milk texturing and steaming
• Safely operate coffee equipment.
• Monitor stock levels of beverage ingredients.

Cleanliness, Food Safety & Presentation

• Maintain clean workstations and customer areas.
• Follow food hygiene, allergen and health and safety procedures.
• Clean equipment in line with café standards.
• Support opening and closing procedures.
• Ensure stock is rotated and stored correctly.

Teamwork & Operational Support

• Work collaboratively with colleagues and the Café Supervisor.
• Replenish stock and prepare service areas.
• Assist with stock checks and stocktakes.
• Support wider hospitality operations when required.
• Assist with kitchen portering duties when needed.

Professional Development

Participate in training and development.

• Develop coffee-making and customer service skills.
• Complete mandatory food safety and health & safety training.
• Respond positively to coaching and feedback.

About You

You will have experience working within a hospitality or café environment and be confident in a customer-facing role. You will demonstrate a flexible approach to work, with strong communication and interpersonal skills. As a team player, you will have a friendly and approachable manner while also being capable of working independently and using your own initiative when required. A strong eye for detail and the ability to stay calm when the café is busy.

You will have a full and valid clean driving licence or have the ability to get to our Harpenden site.

What we are looking for

• Previous café barista, restaurant or hospitality experience
• Five GCSEs (including Maths and English) or equivalent qualification and some relevant work experience.
• Ability to comply with food hygiene, allergen and health & safety requirements, ideally with a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to follow procedures and recipes accurately.
• Good attention to detail and cleanliness standards.
• Friendly and approachable manner and the ability to stay calm during busy periods.
• Positive, proactive "can-do" attitude.

Why Join Us?

You will be joining a friendly team at Rothamsted Enterprises, working in a unique environment based on a large campus

What we can offer you:

• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• 25 days' annual leave
• Generous Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free car parking

Interviews commence from the 12th October 2026

This vacancy does not meet the Home Office requirements; therefore, please ensure you are eligible or already hold the legal right to work in the UK.