Catering Assistant

Compass Group PLC; Stafford; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare & wellbeing

Mental health support

Family benefits

Discounts and perks

Pension scheme

Meals on duty

Entertainment discounts

Travel discounts

Shopping discounts

Job summary

Compass Group UK & Ireland is hiring Front of House Staff at Yarnfield Park in Milton Keynes. The role involves welcoming guests, serving food and drinks, and supporting Costa Coffee and bar service where permitted.

The position is paid at £13.45 per hour with comprehensive benefits and a supportive hospitality environment, including career development opportunities and meals on duty.

Qualifications

• Previous restaurant or customer service experience is desirable.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A friendly, positive and professional approach.
• A genuine passion for customer service and guest satisfaction.
• A can-do attitude and willingness to support the wider team.
• Ability to work at pace while maintaining high standards.
• Good attention to detail and pride in presentation.
• Strong teamwork, time management and multitasking skills.
• A professional appearance and positive demeanour.
• Flexible approach to working hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Ability to follow food safety, hygiene and health and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Support opening and closing duties, ensuring the restaurant is fully prepared for service.
• Set up salad and dessert bars, hot and cold beverage stations and food counters to the required standards.
• Welcome guests and provide prompt, attentive service.
• Serve food and beverages in line with restaurant standards.
• Work with Duty Manager, kitchen and restaurant teams for smooth service.
• Follow food safety and health and safety procedures; keep area tidy after service.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Teamwork

Flexibility

Attention to detail

Professional appearance

Job description

Restaurant Front of House Staff - Yarnfield Park, Milton Keynes | Zero Hours

£13.45 per hour + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

We’re looking for friendly, enthusiastic and customer-focused Restaurant Front of House Staff to join our team at Yarnfield Park. You’ll be at the heart of the guest experience, welcoming customers, delivering great food and beverage service, and helping to create a restaurant environment that is clean, welcoming and ready for every service.

This is a varied role where you’ll have the opportunity to work across different areas of the operation, from restaurant service and Costa Coffee to plate wash and, where appropriate, bar service.

Restaurant Front of House Staff - The Role

As part of our Front of House team, you’ll help make sure every guest receives friendly, efficient and professional service from the moment they arrive.

You’ll:

• Support opening and closing duties, ensuring the restaurant is fully prepared for service.
• Set up salad and dessert bars, hot and cold beverage stations and food counters to the required standards.
• Welcome guests in a friendly and professional manner and provide prompt, attentive service.
• Serve food and beverages in line with restaurant standards.
• Work closely with the Duty Manager, kitchen and restaurant teams to ensure smooth and timely service.
• Ensure food is presented to a consistently high standard.
• Make sure guests are comfortable and satisfied throughout their visit.
• Respond to customer questions and concerns professionally, escalating issues to the manager when required.
• Support plate wash duties when required, including clearing plates, operating the dishwasher and completing the necessary cleaning down.
• Clear and clean the dining area after service, ensuring it is tidy, presentable and ready for the next service.
• Support service at our Costa Coffee shop.
• Support bar service when required and where legally permitted.
• Follow all food safety, sanitation, health and safety procedures and standards.
• Work flexibly across the operation and support colleagues wherever needed to deliver an excellent guest experience.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who enjoys working with people and takes pride in delivering great service.

You’ll ideally have:

• Previous restaurant or customer service experience is desirable.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• A friendly, positive and professional approach.
• A genuine passion for customer service and guest satisfaction.
• A can-do attitude and willingness to support the wider team.
• The ability to work at pace while maintaining high standards.
• Good attention to detail and pride in presentation.
• Strong teamwork, time management and multitasking skills.
• A professional appearance and positive demeanour.
• A flexible approach to working hours, including evenings, weekends and holidays.
• The ability to follow food safety, hygiene and health and safety standards.
• Depending on the role and age, the ability to support bar service where legally permitted.

What you’ll get in return

• Competitive salary with bonus and full company benefits
• Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments)
• Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Family benefits: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. 2 days’ additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby’s first birthday, enhanced family leave
• Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships
• Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products
• Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways
• Meals on duty included
• Entertainment discounts – up to 55% off cinema tickets
• Travel discounts with holiday companies such as TUI and Expedia
• Shopping discounts – save up to 15% at high street and online stores through Shopping Cards

Why Join Us?

Great things happen when people get together in our spaces to meet and spaces to sleep at Yarnfield Park. From conferences, meetings and training to every business event in between, our venue provides an informal atmosphere where our guests can be themselves.

Yarnfield Park is part of The Venues Collection, a division of Compass Group UK & Ireland and a market leader in hospitality, catering and support services. Our venues bring together stylish event spaces, accommodation and leisure facilities, creating memorable experiences for guests across the UK.

You’ll be joining a passionate team where everyone plays a part in delivering great hospitality. Whether you’re looking to build your experience in restaurants, events, coffee or wider hospitality, there are plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and develop your career.

Levy UK & Ireland is part of Compass Group, the world’s largest catering company, and a vibrant leader in hospitality.

We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation, and excellence.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we create unforgettable experiences – and shape the future of hospitality.

Job Reference: com/1509/97324001/52833310/BU #VenuesCollection

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!

• Job Reference com/1509/M25401/52833313/BU
• Contract Type Permanent Casual
• Closing Date 15 October, 2026
• Job Category Other
• Business Unit Venues Collection