Cook

National Trust; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension up to 10%

Free entry to NT places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Flexible working

Free parking at most sites

Job summary

The National Trust is looking for a Cook to join our food and hospitality teams in a rural setting. You will work 37.5 hours per week from Monday to Sunday, 8am–5pm, including bank holidays and occasional late nights.

You will prepare meals from scratch using seasonal ingredients, following the National Trust Cookbook, assist with deliveries, and keep the kitchen clean to meet health and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Compliance.
• Eligibility to Work in the UK

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Serve food directly to visitors in a cafe setting.
• Follow health and safety and maintain kitchen cleanliness.

Job description

Summary

Do you have a passion for food? The National Trust is renowned for its food and hospitality. We run 185 cafes all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and we'd love you to be a part of it. We’re looking for a Cook 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. You'll work 37.5 hours per week from Monday - Sunday including bank holidays and occasional late nights. You'll work between 8am - 5pm.

Benefits

• 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

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

As a Cook, your focus will be in the kitchen, helping to prepare and present delicious food from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Your food will be served directly to visitors. Using the framework of our ‘National Trust Cookbook’, you’ll prepare, measure and mix ingredients. You’ll help with deliveries and with keeping the kitchen clean, to be compliant with health and safety legislation and to make sure that service runs smoothly. 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

• someone who loves good food and has a friendly and positive attitude
• confident about following recipes and batch-cooking, and willing to learn
• aware of health and safety compliance

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

National Trust place Hardwick Hall, Doe Lea, Chesterfield, S44 5QJ

Documents: Cook - Career Level A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 20th 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. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre. Please note we reserve the right to close this advert early.