Catering Assistant

John Lewis & Partners; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading UK employee-owned company as a Catering Assistant in our shops. You will ensure excellent customer service and maintain high hygiene standards while supporting food preparation and service. The role offers flexibility with no late shifts and includes free meals on workdays.

Benefits

Free food during shifts

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Flexible to work across the Catering team.
• Passion for food and keen eye for hygiene and cleanliness.
• Experience in a kitchen or catering environment is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth catering service as part of a team.
• Provide positive interactions with customers.
• Follow health and safety procedures.

Skills

Flexibility

Attention to detail

Customer service

Teamwork

Passion for food

Job description

About the role

Our Catering Assistants in our John Lewis shops work either in customer restaurants or behind-the-scenes in Partner (employee) dining rooms. You will offer the great customer service we're known for. The role can be fast-paced, but by taking pride in your food preparation and presentation standards, you'll ensure the best catering experience. You will also support catering tasks such as stock replenishment and storage of deliveries. Our Catering Partners enjoy free food in our dining rooms on their working days, and as the role is based in our shops, there are no split shifts or late evening work.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as a team to ensure smooth catering service.
• Provide positive customer and Partner interactions with a friendly and welcoming attitude. Be an ambassador for the John Lewis brand at all times.
• Follow procedures and instructions in line with the 'Health and Safety at Work Act' and 'Food Safety Act'.
• Ensure stock is replenished and available for customers.
• Reduce food wastage by careful stock rotation and handling.
• Act promptly and use your initiative to resolve operational issues.
• Maintain personal hygiene standards.

Essential skills/experience you'll need

• Flexibility to work across the Catering team and ensure smooth operations.
• Passion for food.
• Keen eye for detail and high standards in food prep, hygiene, and cleanliness.

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, physically demanding environment.
• Teamwork skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Experience in a kitchen or catering environment.

About The Partnership

We are the largest employee-owned business in the UK, home to John Lewis and Waitrose. We are driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to the future, there's never been a more exciting time to join us.

We focus on being brilliant at retail, continuously innovating, adapting, and diversifying. We are committed to price, quality, and service in John Lewis and passionate about serving food-lovers in Waitrose.

As Partners, we share ownership and responsibility for our success. We contribute our voices, work together through challenges, and treat everyone with kindness and respect.

We foster an environment where everyone can be themselves and thrive, growing individually and collectively.

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.

Important points to note

Some roles may require pre-employment vetting, including DBS checks. If needed, you'll be informed and provided with details during recruitment. We encourage prompt completion of vetting documents to avoid delays. DBS checks will be carried out by a registered third-party body, and financial probity checks may also be required.

We recommend applying promptly as vacancies can close early if we receive many applications.

We support flexible working arrangements, including flexible or compressed hours, job sharing, or shorter contracts where possible. Please discuss this during your interview.