CATERING ASSISTANT

The GORSE Academies Trust; Leeds; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme (£2k)

Job summary

The Farnley Academy is seeking a reliable Catering Assistant to join its busy academy kitchen from September 2026. You will help with food preparation, service and dining operations while maintaining high standards of food safety, hygiene and customer care.

Training will be provided; previous catering experience is desirable but not essential as the trust supports professional development and ongoing training for all staff.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Positive, reliable and flexible approach to work.
• Commitment to high standards of food hygiene and cleanliness.

Responsibilities

• Assist with food preparation and serving in a busy academy kitchen.
• Support dining operations and maintain a clean, welcoming dining environment.
• Deliver high-quality customer care to pupils, staff and visitors.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Food hygiene

Reliability

Job description

Required for September 2026

We are looking for a reliable, enthusiastic and hardworking Catering Assistant to join our friendly catering based at The Farnley Academy. In this important role, you will help deliver a high-quality catering service, ensuring pupils, staff and visitors enjoy nutritious meals in a safe, welcoming and well-maintained dining environment. Working as part of a busy academy kitchen, you will support food preparation, service and dining operations while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, hygiene and customer care.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, takes pride in delivering great service and wants to make a positive contribution to the daily experience of young people. Whether you have previous catering experience or are looking to develop new skills, we will provide the support and training needed to help you succeed.

What We Are Looking For

• A positive, reliable and flexible approach to work.
• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a busy team.
• A commitment to high standards of food hygiene and cleanliness.
• A friendly, professional manner with students, staff and visitors.
• Previous catering experience is desirable but not essential as training will be provided.

What We Offer You

As a trust, we want to ensure that professionals at every stage in their career have the opportunity to enjoy expert support and training. We are pleased to offer a generous benefits package to our team – as we work together to create a rewarding future for all including:

• Membership of a teacher or local government pension scheme, depending on the role.
• A commitment to continued investment in our professionals, supporting every member of staff throughout their career in the trust.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential professional advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• £2k Cycle to work scheme.

About Us

GORSE has a well-known reputation for changing the deal for children and young adults who come from some of the most impoverished parts of the country. Our central mission is to ensure that we play a significant role in removing the stubborn link between poverty and academic underperformance. Consequently, our students and our professionals are in the vanguard of the national drive which seeks to prove that where teaching is excellent, leadership inspiring and behaviour standards exemplary all children excel regardless of background.

Our 15 academies, our central team, our Teaching School Hub and GORSE SCITT work in a tightknit manner which sees our students prospering as a result of great partnership. Our professionals recognise the enormous advantage that comes from belonging to a network of excellence and we as a trust recognise that there is much to be gained when great organisations work with integrity, moral purpose and determination.

If you would like to know more about our trust, please visit our website at www.tgat.org.uk.