Chef

Sodexo Group; Newbury; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mental health support

EAP program

24/7 GP access

Discounts for you and family

Retirement plan

Cycle to Work

Volunteer day

Job summary

Sodexo is looking for an experienced Chef at our Thatcham site to join a friendly catering team delivering high-quality, fresh meals. You’ll work 37.5 hours per week across 5 days from early shifts, with fixed patterns designed for reliable hours and a positive work‑life balance.

You’ll prepare and present meals to standard, maintain food hygiene, and support efficient service with colleagues. Experience in catering and Level 2 Food Hygiene is preferred, with full opportunities for training and

Qualifications

• Experience working as a Chef or in a catering environment.
• Level 2 Food Safety / Food Hygiene qualification (or equivalent).
• Good communication and ability to work effectively as part of a busy team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and present fresh, nutritious food to menu and quality standards, ensuring safe serving.
• Support smooth food service including hot plate, live cooking, prep, storage and disposal.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, personal hygiene, uniform, PPE and housekeeping.
• Report any accidents, near misses, faults or issues promptly.
• Collaborate with colleagues, managers and clients to ensure efficient, high-quality service.
• Attend briefings and handovers to ensure smooth service.
• Follow policies and food safety procedures, with training opportunities to grow skills.

Skills

Cooking

Food Safety

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

• 37.5 hours per week
• 5 days out of 7
• Various shift patterns
• 06:30 - 14:30 and 11:00 - 19:00
• £15.69 per hour

Check your local transport links here: Plan Your Journey | Traveline - the destination you should input is RG18 9TP

Are you an experienced Chef looking for a full-time role, guaranteed hours and a better work-life balance?

Join Sodexo as a Chef at our site in Thatcham, where you’ll be part of a friendly and professional catering team providing high-quality, fresh and nutritious meals for military personnel.

With 37.5 hours per week, 5 days out of 7 and established shift patterns, this is a great opportunity for a Chef looking for a stable role with consistent hours. You’ll have the chance to use your culinary skills every day while working as part of a supportive team and building your career with a leading organisation.

You’ll be responsible for preparing and serving delicious meals to a high standard, while ensuring excellent food hygiene and safety standards are always maintained. Whether you're an experienced Chef looking for your next opportunity or ready to take the next step in your catering career, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll do:

• Prepare, cook and present fresh, nutritious food to the required menu, recipe and quality standards, ensuring food is served safely and at the correct temperature.
• Support the smooth running of food service, including hot plate and live cooking, food preparation, storage and disposal.
• Take pride in maintaining excellent standards of cleanliness, personal hygiene, uniform, PPE and housekeeping across all areas.
• Use catering equipment, materials and supplies responsibly, reporting any accidents, near misses, faults or issues promptly.
• Work closely with your colleagues, managers, customers and clients to ensure an efficient and high-quality catering service.
• Attend team briefings, meetings and complete effective handovers to help ensure a smooth service.
• Follow all company policies, food safety procedures and legislative requirements, while taking advantage of training and development opportunities to grow your skills.

What you bring:

• Previous experience working as a Chef or in a similar catering environment.
• A passion for preparing and serving high-quality food and delivering an excellent service.
• Level 2 Food Safety / Food Hygiene qualification (or equivalent)
• A positive attitude, strong attention to detail and the ability to work effectively as part of a busy team.
• Good communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with colleagues and customers.
• Previous experience in a military or customer-facing environment would be an advantage
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Outlook, would be beneficial.

What we offer:

Working with Sodexo is more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to build a career, develop your skills and be part of a team where your work has a genuine purpose. You’ll be supported by your colleagues and have access to a wide range of benefits and opportunities to develop your career within a large, established organisation.

In addition, we offer:

• Mental health & wellbeing support
• Employee Assistance Programme providing personal, legal and financial advice
• 24/7 virtual GP access and lifestyle rewards
• Discounts for you and your family
• Financial wellbeing tools and retirement plan
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Paid volunteering day

Join Sodexo as a Chef and become part of a team delivering an important catering service for the Ministry of Defence.