Cook

National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty; Wilmslow; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Substantial pension scheme of up to 10

Free entry to National Trust places

Season ticket loan

EV car lease scheme

Perks at work discounts

Holiday allowance up to 32 days

Job summary

The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is seeking a Cook to join our team at Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow. You will prepare and present meals from scratch using fresh ingredients, serving visitors directly in our café.

You will follow recipes, handle batch cooking, and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. Induction and allergen training will be provided, with opportunities for further professional development.

Qualifications

• Experience following recipes and batch-cooking.
• Knowledge of health and safety compliance.
• Ability to work in a kitchen environment and handle allergens.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present dishes from scratch using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Serve food directly to visitors in a cafe setting.
• Assist with deliveries and keep the kitchen clean to meet health and safety standards.
• Participate in induction and training on allergens and food safety; pursue further training if desired.

Skills

Batch cooking

Food safety

Health & safety compliance

Job description

We’re looking for a Cook to join us! 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.

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.

Salary: £25,837.50 per annum

Contract Duration: Permanent

Working Hours: You will work 5 out of 7 days per week, 8:30am to 4:00pm, including weekends and Bank Holidays.

Potential Start Date: Monday 5th October

For this role, you’ll need to complete our online assessment instead of using a C.V. or online application form. This will help us understand more about your strengths and give you more information on the role.

What it's like to work here

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.

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

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• 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)
• 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.

National Trust place

Quarry Bank Mill, Styal, Wilmslow, SK9 4LA

Documents

Cook - Career Level A2.pdf

Requirements

Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK

Additional information

Closing Date: 20 September 2026

Provisional Interview Date: Thursday 25th September

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.