General Catering Assistant – Blanford, Dorset

Holroyd Howe; England; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A catering services provider in Dorset is seeking a General Catering Assistant to support food service operations. The ideal candidate will have customer service experience, knowledge of food safety standards, and a flexible approach to work. This role involves assisting with food preparation, serving meals, and maintaining cleanliness in a dynamic environment. Competitive benefits and a supportive team culture are offered.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Pension contributions

Life assurance

Free food and drink on shift

Employee Assistance Programme

Christmas shutdown

Learning and development opportunities

Refer a friend scheme

Qualifications

• Experience in catering environments preferred.
• Ability to communicate positively and confidently.
• Cash handling experience, understanding of EPOS systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation and cooking of food.
• Take payments for meals and drinks.
• Clean all equipment and maintain high health standards.

Skills

Customer Care and Customer Service experience

Problem solving skills

Ability to work independently

Can-do approach

Education

Level 2 Food Safety Qualification

Level 2 H & S Qualification

First Aid Certificate

Job description

Overview

General Catering Assistant – Blanford, Dorset

Company Description

“At Holroyd Howe we specialise in providing freshly prepared, nutritious food exclusively to independent schools and colleges. We pride ourselves on getting to know those we feed and becoming part of the school community. As a Founder-led business, we are passionate about food, nurturing our people and building long-lasting client relationships. Our bespoke services are crafted to match the unique culture and individual needs of our schools. The recipe for our unique catering service is simple. Take a handful of locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, a dash of creativity, a big pinch of training and mix with talented people.”

Milton Abbey School is a private school for day and boarding pupils in the village of Milton Abass, near Blanford in Dorset. It has 224 pupils as of September 2023, in five houses: Athelstan, Damer, Hambro, Hodgkinson and Tregonwell. The school was founded in 1954 and is co-educational.

The school has facilities that include a golf course, a 15th-century dining hall, an Abbey chapel that can be traced back to the 10th century.

Job Description

You will assist the Catering Supervisors and Chef Managers in all aspects of food service, including taking payment for food and drinks and cleaning equipment as required.

With an excellent eye for detail and high health and safety standards, you will ensure all food is handled in accordance with the standards set by our Food Safety & Quality management system. Alongside this, you will be responsible for delivering and maintaining excellent stock control skills and carry out and record any checks required on behalf of the Chef Manager or Catering Supervisor.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Assist Chef’s and Front of House Manager in the preparation and cooking of food
• Serve meals, snacks & drinks including taking payments.
• Clean all equipment, crockery & cutlery as required.
• Support, operate and provide service in areas including but not limited to: Serveries, Retail, Hospitality, Functions, Coffee Shops.
• Ensure all food is handled in accordance with the standards specified in the Food Safety & Quality Management System
• Ensure all work is carried out in accordance with the relevant Health & Safety legislation and Codes of Practice.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training that may include off-site and occasionally overnight travel.
• Ensure all raw materials and packaging materials are stored in the correct areas of the site.
• Embrace and actively participate in the Zero Harm culture.

Our Ideal Candidate

Togetherness

• Ability to work as part of a team
• A flexible approach to working hours
• Be supportive of colleagues

Nurture

• Keen to learn on the job
• Hold Food Safety Level 2 (or be able to achieve on appointment)

Pride

• Be honest and trustworthy

Skills/Knowledge/Experience Required

• Customer Care and Customer Service experience, preferably in a Catering environment – candidate must have the ability to communicate positively and confidently about Somerset Larder and HPC Contract to our consumers and clients.
• Problem solving skills, ability to see the ‘end game’ and work around particular hurdles placed at short notice.
• Ability to use and understand Cash, Cash Handling, EPOS and Cashless systems.
• Previous Large Catering experience.
• Previous responsibility for stock and cash management control
• Able to work independently
• Have a can-do approach

Qualifications

• Level 2 Food Safety Qualification
• Level 2 H & S Qualification
• First Aid Certificate

Additional Information

Employee Benefits Menu

• Generous Time Off

  Savour a well-balanced blend of work and personal time with our generous annual leave allowance

• Pension Contributions with Extra Spice
• Life Assurance

  Our life assurance plan is here to provide peace of mind, so you can focus on serving up excellence

• Comprehensive Family Leave Benefits

  When life serves up big changes, we’re here to support you with a menu of family leave benefits designed so you can make memories as you care for your family.

• Free Food and Drink on Shift

  Enjoy a daily free meal/drink so you can fuel up and stay energised.

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)/Mental Health First Aiders

  Tap into our 24/7, all-year round helpline and portal Wisdom, loaded with resources on health, finances, legal advice and lifestyle tips – a full menu of support options

• Christmas Shutdown

  Relax during the festive period whilst the operation is closed between Christmas and New Year – a rarity for the Hospitality industry

• Learning, Development and Apprenticeship Opportunities

  Stir up new skills with a range of development and apprenticeship opportunities to help you grow your career and cook up success in the culinary world.

• Access to Occupational Health

  As a perk of being part of the HPC project, you will have access to Health Partners, the UK’s leading provider of workplace health services

• Refer a Friend Scheme

  Use our employee referral programme and benefit financially by adding people from your professional network to our workforce.

• Long Service Awards

  Celebrate the milestones! Receive our heartfelt gratitude and special recognition at your 5- and 10-year anniversaries

• Annual Team Awards

  We honour the outstanding contributions and achievements of our team. It’s our way of saying cheers to you!

• This benefits menu is our recipe for a rewarding and fulfilling career, where you can develop your talents and delight in the journey ahead.
• Pre-Employment Screening

  You must be able to provide in date photographic ID and their right to work in the UK

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