Catering Assistant

MEA Central; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 13,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

CPD for all roles

Health plan

Pension

Annual leave 26 days

Cyclescheme

EAP

Credit union

Flexible working

Mental health support

Blue Light Card

bYond cashback

Job summary

MEA Central in Manchester is seeking a Catering Assistant to join our busy school catering team. You will help prepare, serve, and present meals, set up dining areas and maintain high hygiene standards while delivering friendly customer service.

This 20-hour-per-week Grade 2 post runs term time plus 5 INSET days, with a starting salary of £12,787 and a full-time equivalent of £26,016. The start date will be confirmed after all pre-employment checks are complete, and we offer a range of benefits

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Prepare, serve and present meals
• Set up dining areas and operate tills
• Clean kitchen equipment and dining furniture
• Ensure compliance with Food Hygiene and COSHH regulations
• Provide excellent customer service to students and staff
• Support equal opportunities and inclusivity in the workplace

Skills

Food preparation

Customer service

Team player

Communication

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 20 hours per week, 10.30am-2.30pm, term time only plus 5 INSET days. The starting salary is £12,787 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

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

Safety & Compliance

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.

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.