Catering Assistant

Holroyd Howe; Guildford; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 22,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday (including bank hols)

Volunteer days

Grandparent leave

Enhanced maternity leave (24 weeks)

Training & development opportunities

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Wellbeing hub & employee assistance

Free meals

Apprenticeships for all levels

Job summary

Holroyd Howe is seeking a Catering Assistant in Guildford to support day-to-day school meal delivery with reliability and care. The role covers serving nutritious meals and assisting multiple departments in a fast-paced environment.

You will work term-time only, 7:00–15:00, Monday to Friday, joining a leading contract caterer dedicated to allergen safety, training and professional development for staff and pupils.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Proven customer service skills with a friendly, professional demeanor.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and be self-motivated.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and clerical support across departments (data entry, filing, document organisation).
• Assist with meetings, events and special projects coordination.
• Maintain clean, organised work areas and inventory.
• Monitor stock levels and alert management to shortages.
• Deliver friendly, efficient customer service to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Organisational skills

Time management

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

IT literacy

Health & safety

Reliability

Punctuality

Adaptability

Tools

Office software

Job description

Job Title: Catering Assistant

Location: RGS Guildford - High Street, Guildford, GU1 3BB

Contract Type: (Term-Time Only - 176 days a year

Salary: £13.60 per hour

0700-1500 Mon-Fri

Why Join us?

• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development through apprenticeships for all experience levels.

About the role:

We are seeking enthusiastic and reliable General Assistant to support the day-to-day food and service delivery across the school. This role is essential in ensuring pupils, staff, and visitors receive high-quality, nutritious meals served with care, efficiency, and attention to detail.

You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

The safety and wellbeing of the people we serve is at the heart of everything we do. A key element is effective allergen management; achieved through training, communication, and care, we create mealtimes where every pupil has a safe experience. Our mission is simple: to provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their job and our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

Job Description

We're looking for a detail-oriented and enthusiastic General Assistant to join our dynamic team in Guildford, United Kingdom. In this role, you'll be the backbone of our operations, providing essential support across multiple departments and ensuring smooth day-to-day functioning. As a General Assistant, you'll work collaboratively with colleagues at all levels, bringing a can-do attitude and a commitment to excellence to everything you do.

• Provide comprehensive administrative and clerical support to various departments, including data entry, filing, and document organization
• Assist with the preparation and coordination of meetings, events, and special projects
• Maintain organized and clean work areas, ensuring all supplies and materials are properly stored and inventoried
• Monitor inventory levels and notify management of any shortages or discrepancies
• Deliver friendly and efficient customer service to internal and external stakeholders, addressing inquiries and concerns with professionalism
• Support the coordination of schedules, appointments, and logistics to ensure smooth operations
• Follow proper health, safety, and organizational procedures to maintain a secure and compliant workplace
• Participate in training sessions and meetings related to organizational procedures, safety protocols, and customer service standards
• Multitask effectively while maintaining attention to detail and meeting established deadlines
• Collaborate with team members to support departmental goals and contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment

Qualifications

• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks effectively
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy
• Demonstrated customer service skills with a friendly, professional demeanor
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while also being self-motivated
• Basic computer literacy and proficiency with standard office software and tools
• Flexible approach to work with a genuine can-do attitude and willingness to adapt to changing priorities
• Good Health & Safety knowledge and understanding of workplace compliance procedures
• Reliable, punctual, and committed to supporting organizational goals
• Problem-solving abilities and resourcefulness in addressing challenges
• Preferred: Experience working in a corporate, educational, or similar organizational environment
• Preferred: Experience in administrative or general assistant roles

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

People first

We’re a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.

Great food, always

Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.

Food education

We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.

Respect in everything we do

Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.

Fresh thinking

New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.

Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children.

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.