Head Chef

Gather + Gather; Reading; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Personal Development

Life Assurance

Pension

Holiday Allowance

Healthcare Support App

Eye Care

Wellbeing Programme

Family-friendly support

Discount vouchers

Job summary

Gather & Gather is seeking a Head Chef for the Thales site in Reading. The role offers £40,000 per annum and a Monday–Thursday 7:00–16:00, Friday 7:00–13:00 shift pattern (40 hours per week). You will lead a busy kitchen delivering up to 200 covers daily, develop menus, and manage costs and compliance.

You will oversee the Commis Chef, drive food quality and safety standards, and deputise for the Catering Manager when needed, contributing to a dynamic, award-winning team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day kitchen operation, delivering 150–200 lunch covers per day.
• Create fresh, exciting menus and continually develop and improve the food offer.
• Deliver a varied offer across breakfast, hot lunches, salad bar, bakery, hospitality and events.
• Introduce seasonal menus, themed days, chef-led pop-ups and BBQs to keep the offer fresh.
• Manage food preparation, ordering, stock control and food costs.
• Lead and develop the Commis Chef, creating a positive and supportive kitchen environment.
• Maintain excellent standards of food quality, presentation, hygiene and food safety.
• Take ownership of kitchen compliance, due diligence and safe working practices.
• Fully deputise for the Catering Manager when required, overseeing the wider catering operation and FOH team.
• Bring creativity, energy and new ideas to continually raise the standard of the food offer.

Job description

Great food in the workplace isn’t simply about fuel.It’s about increasing productivity and improving performance; it’s about happy, motivated people and inspiring environments. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do – we live to bring food and people together.

We are brave, bold and curious adventurers in food and drink. Never shy of being different, always challenging the conventional.

Our passionate team of chefs, baristas, servers, nutritionists and much more, love nothing more than creating memorable moments that enrich the everyday. Come and join our award-winning teams – we are currently recruiting for a Head Chef to join our team at Thales.

Location: Thales Green Park, Reading

Salary: £40,000 per annum

Shift Pattern: Monday-Thursday 7:00-16:00, Friday 7:00-13:0, 40 hours per week

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day kitchen operation, delivering 150–200 lunch covers per day.
• Create fresh, exciting menus and continually develop and improve the food offer.
• Deliver a varied offer across breakfast, hot lunches, salad bar, bakery, hospitality and events.
• Introduce seasonal menus, themed days, chef-led pop-ups and BBQs to keep the offer fresh.
• Manage food preparation, ordering, stock control and food costs.
• Lead and develop the Commis Chef, creating a positive and supportive kitchen environment.
• Maintain excellent standards of food quality, presentation, hygiene and food safety.
• Take ownership of kitchen compliance, due diligence and safe working practices.
• Fully deputise for the Catering Manager when required, overseeing the wider catering operation and FOH team.
• Bring creativity, energy and new ideas to continually raise the standard of the food offer.

What’s in it for you?

Working with Gather & Gather has its perks! People are at the heart of everything we do, so we’ve developed a range of benefits to keep you happy.

• Personal Development and Training opportunities
• Life assurance scheme
• Pension scheme
• Holiday allowance
• Access to Healthcare Support App which includes Annual health check, Digital GP, Mental Health Consultations, Nutritional Consultations, Second Medical Opinion
• Eye care
• A great wellbeing strategy – including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, salary finance
• Family friendly support
• Regular social events and communication with our leaders
• A holiday purchase scheme
• Volunteering days
• Professional subscriptions
• Recognition schemes and people awards
• Long service awards
• Access to some great high street discount vouchers

About Us

As part of Compass you’ll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK’s biggest businesses.

Job Reference: com/2810/48397001/52843268/SU #Gather and Gather

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!