Catering Assistant

Serco Limited; Bedford; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Free staff meals every shift

Uniform provided

Comprehensive onsite training

Overtime paid at time and a half

Job summary

Serco Limited at Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre in Bedford is hiring a Kitchen Assistant to support chefs, prepare varied menus including special diets, and help deliver nutritious meals in a fast-paced environment.

You will follow food safety rules, manage storage and waste, and record production per HACCP and allergen controls. A full UK driving licence is essential due to location, with 12-hour shifts on a 3-on/3-off pattern.

Qualifications

• Experience in a catering or kitchen setting in a fast-paced environment.
• Food Safety Level 2 or 3 (or willingness to gain).
• Knowledge of HACCP and allergen procedures.
• Good teamwork, communication, and basic computer skills.
• Full UK driving licence due to location.

Responsibilities

• Support chefs in preparing varied menus, including special diets and culturally appropriate meals.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene regulations are strictly followed.
• Safely manage food storage, delivery, and waste disposal.
• Record food production in line with HACCP, allergen controls, and audit standards.
• Participate in quality checks and hospitality services.
• Understand and support safety, safeguarding, and security procedures.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Food safety

HACCP knowledge

Teamwork

Communication

Basic computer skills

Full UK driving licence

Education

Food Safety Level 2/3

Job description

Location: Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Rd, Milton Ernest, Bedford MK44 1FD

Salary: £25,769 per annum Shift Pattern: 3 days on / 3 days off | 12-hour shifts (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)

Join Serco at Yarl’s Wood, where your kitchen experience can have real purpose – helping to provide dignity, care, and stability through nutritious meals to people in a challenging time of their lives. This is a busy, high-energy environment that’s ideal if you thrive in a fast-paced kitchen. You’ll fit right in if you’ve worked in roles like kitchen assistant, catering assistant, kitchen crew member, or kitchen team member.

Benefits

• Free onsite parking
• Free staff meals every shift
• Uniform provided
• Comprehensive onsite training
• Overtime paid at time and a half

What you’ll do as a Kitchen Assistant

• Support chefs in preparing varied menus, including special diets and culturally appropriate meals
• Ensure food safety and hygiene regulations are strictly followed
• Safely manage food storage, delivery, and waste disposal
• Record food production in line with HACCP, allergen controls, and audit standards
• Participate in quality checks and hospitality services
• Understand and support safety, safeguarding, and security procedures

What you’ll need

• Experience in a catering or kitchen setting (fast-paced food service environment)
• Food Safety Level 2 or 3 (or willingness to gain this)
• Knowledge of HACCP and allergen procedures
• Good teamwork, communication, and basic computer skills
• Full UK driving licence (essential due to location)

Why Serco?

A place you can make an impact – You’ll do interesting work that matters – delivering essential services that touch people’s lives.

A place you can count on – Our diverse UK-wide operations offer unrivalled opportunities to learn and develop. You’ll be able to broaden your experience and apply your skills in new ways.

A place for you – We’re a motivated team who will encourage you and help you to succeed within a supportive and safe culture.

What we offer

• Pension up to 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Chance to contribute to innovation in public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• A Serco benefits portal offering a wide range of discounts for major high street brands in Retail, Leisure and Hospitality
• Access to our employee networks, which support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower diverse groups including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

About Yarl’s Wood IRC

Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre has been managed by Serco since 2007. It’s a secure facility where women without legal immigration status are held awaiting deportation or a decision on their case. Our centre is dedicated to ensuring a safe, supportive and respectful environment for these women, during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

What makes us unique is the diverse community we care for and the specialist services we provide, including welfare and healthcare support; faith and cultural provision; and education, recreation and work opportunities. At Yarl’s Wood, you’ll be part of a team where compassion, innovation, and impact come together making it a truly rewarding place to work.

A little bit about Serco

At Serco, we’re a fast-growing company, serving governments around the globe. Our work spans a wide range of sectors including Justice, Immigration, Defence, Leisure, Healthcare, Transport, and Citizen Services. We’re committed to delivering and improving public services for the benefit of everyone, guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride.

Our inclusive recruitment process: We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We’re a Disability Confident Leader, a top three Great British Employer of Veterans, a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard, championing fair access to employment and equal opportunities for all. As such we’re open to flexible working arrangements where possible and we’ll make reasonable adjustments from interview through to employment.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

We support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may be exempt due to security requirements). Let’s impact a better future, together.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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