Chef

Impact Food Group; Oxshott; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 19,000; Full time

Job summary

Impact Food Group is hiring an onsite Chef at Danes Hill School, Leatherhead (KT22 0JG). The role runs Monday to Friday, 7am-3pm (37.5 hours/week) during term time.

You will help prepare fresh, seasonal meals for students and staff, with a focus on quality, presentation and portioning for high-volume service. Join a team delivering great food in a school setting, with a positive work-life balance, free meals on shift, ongoing training, and opportunities for progression.

Qualifications

• Experience as a chef, ideally within a school or contract catering environment (but not essential)
• A passion for cooking with fresh ingredients and delivering quality food
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• A positive, can-do attitude and willingness to learn
• Good understanding of food hygiene and safety standards
• Reliability and pride in maintaining high standards

Responsibilities

• Assisting with the preparation of main meals and snacks
• Cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients for high-volume service (200+ covers)
• Supporting with occasional counter service and till work
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and organised kitchen and dining environment

Skills

Cooking

Food safety

Teamwork

Communication

Reliability

Attention to detail

Job description

Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England’s fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment. Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.

About The Role

Job Title: Chef

School Location: Danes Hill School , Leatherhead, KT22 0JG

Working Days: Monday to Friday

Shifts & Working hours: 7am-3pm (37.5 hours per week)

Working Weeks: 34.4 weeks per year (term time only)

Pay Details: £20,880 per Annum

What You’ll Be Doing:

As an onsite Chef, you’ll assist in preparing fresh, seasonal meals for our independent schools. You’ll focus on quality, presentation, and portioning to meet the expectations of students and staff.

This role is assisting with the preparation of food for the site and will involve working at volume, preparing salad counters, assisting the head chef and supporting where required.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the preparation of main meals and snacks
• Cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients for high-volume service (200+ covers)
• Supporting with occasional counter service and till work
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and organised kitchen and dining environment at all times

What are we looking for?

We’re not going to overload you with buzzwords - we’re simply looking for great chefs who care about food.

• Experience as a chef, ideally within a school or contract catering environment (but not essential)
• A passion for cooking with fresh ingredients and delivering quality food
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• A positive, can-do attitude and willingness to learn
• Good understanding of food hygiene and safety standards
• Reliability and pride in maintaining high standards

We welcome people from all backgrounds, and we’re proud to have chefs with restaurant-quality experience working in our schools. If you’re passionate about food and want to make a difference, we want to hear from you.

We’re not in the business of making school food, we’re here to make great food. That’s why our customers love us.

What’s in it for you?

This role offers a fantastic work-life balance:

• No evenings or weekends
• School holidays off
• No late nights or split shifts

Plus, you’ll benefit from:

• Free meals on shift
• Ongoing training, development, and career progression opportunities
• Access to free qualifications
• A staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers

You’ll also have the chance to build meaningful relationships with students, helping them explore new cuisines and develop a positive relationship with food that lasts a lifetime.

Please note: A trade test will be required as part of the recruitment process.

IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which IFG supply the cost for.

We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.