Catering Assistant

MEA Central; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 6,400 - 7,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

High quality CPD for all roles

Bupa Health Plan (Level 1)

Generous Pension Contribution

26 days annual leave rising to 31

Cyclescheme

Job summary

MEA Central, part of Prospere Learning Trust, is seeking a Catering Assistant to join our busy school catering team in Manchester. The role focuses on preparing, serving, and presenting meals for students and staff, while upholding high hygiene standards.

This is a Grade 2, permanent post working 10 hours per week during term time plus INSET days, with a starting salary of £6,393 and full-time equivalent of £26,016. The start date will follow completion of pre-employment checks.

Qualifications

• Experience in food preparation and service (school or catering desirable).
• Reliable, enthusiastic, and a great team player.
• Demonstrates excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Maintains high hygiene standards in a busy catering environment.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve meals and sandwiches; operate tills.
• Assist with setting up and serving meals; maintain dining areas.
• Clean kitchen equipment and dining furniture; ensure hygiene compliance.

Skills

Food preparation

Customer service

Team player

Hygiene standards

Job description

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Catering Assistant to join our fantastic team at MEA Central

We are looking for a Catering Assistant to join our friendly and hardworking team at MEA Central. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a busy, customer-focused environment and takes pride in delivering high-quality service.

As part of our catering team, you will play a key role in supporting the smooth running of our school catering service — helping to prepare, serve, and present meals that keep our students and staff nourished and ready to learn.

This is a Grade 2, permanent post working 10 hours per week, 12.30pm-2.30pm, term time only plus 5 INSET days. The starting salary is £6,393 and the full time equivalent is £26,016. The start date for this post will be confirmed as soon as all pre-employment checks are complete.

About the role:

You’ll work as part of a supportive team to provide an efficient and effective catering service. This includes preparing and serving food, setting up and cleaning dining areas, and maintaining high standards of food hygiene and safety.

You’ll also be involved in:

• Preparing food, making sandwiches and operating tills
• Assist with the setting up and serving of meals
• Cleaning kitchen equipment and dining furniture
• Ensuring compliance with Food Hygiene and COSHH regulations
• Providing excellent customer service to students and staff
• Supporting equal opportunities and inclusivity in our workplace

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience in food preparation and service (school or catering experience desirable)
• Is reliable, enthusiastic, and a great team player
• Demonstrates excellent communication and customer service skills
• Works efficiently while maintaining high hygiene standard

To find out more about the full responsibilities of the role and/or to ensure you meet the essential criteria, please review the attached job description.

All school staff are expected to share the Trust’s commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Specific safeguarding responsibilities are detailed in the attached job description.

Working for Prospere Learning Trust

Great schools thrive because of the great people in them. We invest in our staff to achieve their full potential and offer a range of benefits including.

• High quality CPD for all roles
• Bupa Level 1 Health Plan - annual cash back allowance for a range of every day health care expenses
• Generous Pension Contribution - over 26% for teachers and over 15% for support staff
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days with 5 years' service
• Cyclescheme - save up to 39% on a bike and accessories and get Strava for free
• Employee Assistance Programmes - including access to free counselling and 24/7 helplines
• Credit Union - regular savings, Christmas saving scheme and access to affordable loans
• Flexible working options - we're happy to talk flexible working where possible
• Mental Health First Aid in every school
• Blue Light Card - discounts on holidays, cars, days out, fashion, gifts, insurance, phones, and many more
• bYond cashback card - spend smarter with a prepaid cashback card for your everyday purchases

Visit our website to learn more about our Trust: Welcome to Prospere Learning Trust

Safeguarding Commitment

All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

Equality Statement

Prospere Learning Trust values diversity and welcomes applications from all candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 all positions within the School are exempt. Therefore, we are entitled to carry out Enhanced Disclosure checks for all staff and volunteers. It is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relating to children.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; we do not sponsor visa applications. If you’ve lived or worked outside the UK in the last five years, additional information will be required. Job offers are contingent on satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references.

As per Keeping Children Safe in Education, we conduct online searches on shortlisted candidates to identify any relevant issues for interview discussion. Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit a self-disclosure declaration, declaring any relevant convictions, adult cautions or other matters which may affect your suitability to work with children. Information will be provided on where to seek guidance on whether certain offences are now protected and should not be disclosed within the self-disclosure form.