Chef

National Trust; Alderley Edge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading conservation organization is seeking an experienced Chef for its site in Alderley Edge, England. In this role, you will prepare delicious food using fresh and seasonal ingredients while contributing to conservation efforts. The position requires creativity in menu design, effective stock management, and strict adherence to hygiene and safety standards. The role offers exciting opportunities for professional growth, competitive benefits, and the chance to work in a historic setting that welcomes over 300,000 visitors annually.

Benefits

Health cash plan

Pension contribution match

Discounted gym membership

Free entry to NT properties

20% off in Retail and Food & Beverage outlets

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chef in a catering environment.
• Ability to create and prepare dishes that delight customers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food for core and special menus.
• Manage stock ordering and minimize wastage.
• Maintain hygiene standards and supervise the team.

Skills

Customer focused

Team player

Creative

IT literate

Qualified in food preparation and cooking

Exceptional customer service

Knowledge of Health & Safety compliance

Education

City & Guilds or NVQ L2 or equivalent

Job description

Overview

As a talented Chef, you’ll have a passion for food and enjoy inspiring a team to deliver great results. Joining our fast paced, passionate team working at an amazing location, you’ll maximise income opportunities so that the profit can be reinvested back into the important conservation work we do here at Quarry Bank.

What it's like to work here

Quarry Bank is a large National Trust property and the former cotton mill was built in 1784 and is one of Britain’s greatest industrial heritage sites. The busy estate hosts many schools programmes and events, which help bring Quarry Bank’s fascinating story to life. New areas of the estate have recently opened to the public which has grown our visitor attraction to become a multi-day visit. This is an exciting opportunity to work in high volume location and the team pride themselves on being dynamic, highly motivated and passionate people.

Quarry Bank welcomes over 300,000 visitors to the property annually and our food sales income exceeds £1 million. The profit that our food and beverage operation generates goes back into protecting Quarry Bank for ever, for everyone. We have three very busy food outlets spread across the estate, including the Mill Restaurant, Garden Cafe and Stables Ice Cream Parlour. Quarry Bank is also a large conference and banqueting venue that hosts over 30 weddings a year and runs many corporate events and business meetings for up to 150 people during the week. Our two banqueting suites have their own bars, with a further two conference rooms and other flexible event spaces located within the estate. Our hard working team of chefs help to support us deliver this operation, cooking and producing all food on site using locally-sourced, often home-grown produce wherever possible.

What you'll be doing

You'll be preparing food for both our core menus and our special menu- 'Spirit of Place'. The National Trust Cookbook framework will guide you through preparing a wide variety of food, from tasty treats to heart-warming soups, and delicious main meals. You'll be passionate about using fresh, seasonal ingredients in your dishes. This role may offer opportunities to be creative. Our Spirit of the Place menu consists of just a handful of dishes, although these will have been uniquely designed by yourself and the rest of the team. These dishes help to tell the story of Quarry Bank. We consider Quarry Bank our home and we welcome new ideas that will help to develop the Food & Beverage operation even more. The profits we make are put straight back into the conservation of this beautiful historic building and our Food & Beverage operation play a big part in this.

Other key parts of your role will also include: managing stock ordering, minimise wastage and maintain excellent hygiene standards, and supporting the Manager with team supervision when required.

Who we're looking for

As an experienced Chef, you’ll be passionate about food and be driven to exceed customer’s expectations by delighting them with the delicious food you create, prepare and serve.

• Customer focused with great verbal and written communication skills
• A great team player
• Creative and proactive
• IT literate
• Qualified in food preparation and cooking to City & Guilds or NVQ L2 or equivalent
• Experienced in successfully delivering a centrally developed menu in a fast paced, catering environment
• Proud to deliver exceptional customer service
• Aware of good working knowledge of Health & Safety compliance requirements

The package

• Health cash plan – from as little as £3.09 per month for you and your dependents
• Pension contribution match up to 10%
• EAP and proactive Health and Wellbeing
• Discounted gym membership at over 100 leisure facilities across the country

Looking after your career

• Grow your career through professional training courses across the Trust
• Develop your skills with an internal secondment
• Pay review linked to values and behaviours, commitment to progression
• Work in some of the most beautiful, iconic and unique locations in the UK
• Free entry to NT properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• 20% off in our Retail and Food & Beverage outlets
• Discount up to 35% off a National Trust holiday cottage booking

If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have not been selected for an interview on this occasion. Thank you and good luck.