Chef

National Trust; Uckfield; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Free entry to NT places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease (where applicable)

Flexible working

Employee assistance programme

Free parking

Job summary

National Trust seeks a chef to prepare fresh, seasonal dishes within our cookbook framework, serving visitors directly in a on-site setting.

You will support a collaborative team, uphold high hygiene standards, follow recipes, and participate in training on allergens and food safety. This permanent, full-time role is based at Sheffield Park, with weekend and holiday shifts as required.

Qualifications

• Experience as a professional chef or cook with a passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Ability to follow recipes and batch-cook efficiently.
• Knowledge of food hygiene and COSHH procedures.

Responsibilities

• Prepare delicious dishes from scratch within the National Trust Cookbook framework.
• Serve food directly to visitors and maintain high service standards.
• Support team members and foster a positive work environment.

Skills

Professional chef

Batch cooking

Food safety

Team communication

Job description

Summary

Are you looking to step up your career in food and beverage? The National Trust is renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes, tea-rooms, and restaurants all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to join us. We’re looking for a Chef to join us. Because we are in a rural area, please think about how you’d be able to get here for work, before applying for the job.

Benefits:

We want to help you look after the things that matter to you, such as saving for your future, getting a discount on your weekly shop, or encouraging you to find a work-life balance. Please read our package, below, to see what benefits we offer you.

Hours:

37.5 hours a week (including weekends, bank holidays and school holidays), no evenings.

Salary:

£27,704.00 per annum

Duration:

Full time/Permanent

Interview date:

Friday 2nd October

Potential start date:

Beginning of October

What It's Like To Work Here

To find out more about what it’s like to work in a food and beverage team for the National Trust, click here to watch our video.

What You'll Be Doing

You’ll be working within the framework of our ‘National Trust Cookbook’ to prepare delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Your food will be served directly to visitors.

You’ll help to build a great place to work, which includes showing empathy and giving support to team members when needed. The aim is to foster a positive spirit where everyone is focussed on giving the best possible service to visitors.

By maintaining high standards of food hygiene and COSHH procedures, you’ll minimise risks to visitors, staff and contractors.

We’ll give you an induction that fits the job, and training in allergens and food safety, plus any mentoring needed to help you in your role. You can sign up for further professional training and development if you wish.

Who We're Looking For

• Experienced as a professional chef or cook, with a passion for food and a friendly and positive attitude.
• Confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn.
• Aware of health and safety compliance.
• Happy working within a team, and good at communicating with people.

The package

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
• Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
• Rental deposit loan scheme
• Season ticket loan
• EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
• Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
• Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
• Flexible working whenever possible
• Employee assistance programme
• Free parking at most Trust places

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.

National Trust place

Sheffield Park, Sheffield Park, Uckfield, TN22 3QX

Documents

Chef - Career Level B.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Closing Date: 27th September 2026

Equal Opportunities Statement

The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.

Safeguarding Statement

The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.