Hospitality Assistant

LLOYD'S REGISTER INTERNATIONAL; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual staff outing

Annual Leave Purchase Scheme

Free meal on duty

On site gym

NOW pension scheme

Job summary

Pembroke College is seeking a Hospitality Assistant to support its Catering Team in providing high quality food and beverage service for internal and external events. You will engage with customers, help run buffets, cafes and banquets, and contribute to a welcoming environment on site.

The role involves working 37.5 hours per week on a shift system, including evenings and weekends. Prior hospitality experience and a customer-focused approach are desirable, with training provided on college

Qualifications

• Educated to high school level or equivalent.
• Good organisational skills and IT aptitude.
• Experience in a restaurant or hotel service environment.
• Ability to lead from the front and work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparation and service for college and external events.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in service areas.
• Set up and clear buffets, lunches and dinners as required.
• Assist with conference and meeting room catering and events.
• Monitor portion sizes and ensure correct charges are applied.
• Adhere to HACCP procedures and health & safety guidelines.
• Support supervision of casual staff and training as needed.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Friendly & approachable

Trustworthy

Teamwork

Adaptability

Effective communication with senior mg

Education

High School level or equivalent

NVQ Hospitality & Catering

Job description

Cambridge CB2 1RF

Hospitality Assistant Catering Department

Welcome to Pembroke

Thank you for your interest in the position of Hospitality Assistant at Pembroke College.

I hope that this information pack will encourage your interest in the position within a committed, supportive network of colleagues who will share your determination to engage wide and diverse audiences in our work.

Important Dates

Closing Date for Applications: Ongoing

We reserve the right to close this post earlier if we receive sufficient applications.

About Our College

Pembroke College, founded in 1347 by Marie de St Pol, Countess of Pembroke, is proud of its traditions. The third oldest of the Cambridge colleges, it was the first to have its own chapel. Located in the heart of the University city, Pembroke is set within an impressive environment with varied architectural styles framing beautiful gardens and open courts. It's the perfect place to encourage creativity and innovation.

The College today is an intimate yet diverse community, committed to welcoming students of exceptional talent regardless of their social, cultural or educational background and giving them the benefit of contact with a large and distinguished Fellowship. It is equally committed to attracting early-career academics and staff of exceptional promise, as well as those with established careers, and ensuring that Pembroke provides a culture and a community where every member is able to flourish.

Pembroke thrives on conversations - between generations and disciplines, between undergraduates, graduates, senior Members and professional colleagues, between current students and our alumni, and between the academy and the wider world. It is an exceptionally friendly college full of talented individuals. We take our responsibilities of working at the highest level seriously and support each other to achieve this.

Since 2020, the number of applications to Pembroke has grown by over 12%, rising from 891 in 2020 to 1006 in 2024. This has largely comprised increased applications from those from the state school sector, with this demographic seeing a 9.3 percentage point increase in applications. Pembroke is routinely one of the most competitive colleges to apply to, and our students do well when they are here. In 2024, Pembroke ranked fourth out of 29 colleges that admit undergraduates when it came to exam performance.

Pembroke is also increasingly diverse and takes seriously its commitment to achieving the University's widening participation targets. Since 2022 the College has seen a 5 percentage point increase in admittances from those living in the two most deprived quintiles of the UK, according to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD); in 2024 these students comprised 19.3% of home entrants.

The admissions work is supported by the outreach and recruitment work that the admission office also undertakes; between 2017 and 2024, this involved working with over 26,000 students from over 1,890 schools.

The Department

From a business meeting, to a celebratory dinner or wedding reception, Pembroke College’s Catering Team are experienced and well-trained in providing excellent food, facilities and service. When combined with our quintessentially English gardens and historic buildings, Pembroke College offers a rare and unique venue for hosting your important events. We cater for weddings exclusively for alumni and College members, reserving Saturdays throughout the long vacation for these unique events.

The Role and its Purpose

To assist in the smooth running of the food and beverage service for all internal and external functions including cafeteria lunches, fine dining, College feasts, buffet service, student café and bar; to actively engage with our customers, exceeding their expectations and ensuring all aspects of service provided are effectively delivered.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation and service of all meals to both College and commercial customers as per Food Service Department procedures.
• Ensure agreed standards of service are maintained in all areas and customers are treated respectfully and any requests are dealt with in a professional and courteous manner at all times.
• Ensure all areas where food and beverages are served are kept clean, tidy and hygienic.
• Laying and clearing of tables as appropriate to the particular service within the standards established. Learn the correct procedure for setting various buffets, lunches and dinners.
• Assist with the setting up and clearing of food and beverages from conference and meeting rooms, to include all buffets, lunches and dinners.
• Ensure correct charges for food are made; monitor portion sizes.
• To adhere to reasonable instructions issued by members of the Catering management team
• Learn to correctly use the Monika HACCP system and ensure all required checks are completed correctly, notifying the supervisor where areas require further cleaning or maintenance.
• Correctly use the till system following guidelines for cashing up after service, raising change requisitions and storing money in the safe.
• Help to delegate, train and supervise casual members of staff to ensure work is done correctly.

Skills:

• Good organisational skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven customer service skills.
• Friendly, co-operative, helpful and approachable.
• Responsible and trustworthy.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexible approach and accepting of change.
• Ability to communicate effectively to colleagues and other senior management personnel.
• Work Experience: Experience of University and/or College environment would be an advantage.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Qualifications/academic achievements/education Educated to High School level or equivalent. Skills/knowledge/training
• Good organisational skills.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills. Customer service skills.
• IT skills.
• Experience of working in a restaurant or hotel serving customers.
• Experience in a public/customer related environment. Friendly, co-operative and helpful/ approachable. Responsible and trustworthy.
• Ability to lead from the front.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexible approach and accepting of change.
• Ability to communicate effectively to colleagues and other senior management personnel.
• Able to work weekend shift patterns.
• Confidentiality Can demonstrate ability to work confidentially.

Desirable:

• Qualifications/academic achievements/education NVQ Hospitality & Catering.
• Experience in a College environment.

Pembroke Benefits

• Annual staff outing
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme
• Christmas gift for staff
• Cycle to work and 'Buy a bike' schemes
• Death in service benefit
• Discounts on Dell products
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free meal whilst on duty when the servery is open
• Use of free passes to the Botanical Gardens
• Local discounts with University Card
• Medicash
• NOW pension scheme
• On site gym
• Subsidised health care
• and more.......

Some benefits are non-contractual and may be withdrawn.

Some benefits may be subject to a qualifying period and/or subject to terms.

Department Structure

Catering & Event Manger

Frount of House Manager

Senior Hospitality Assistant

Hospitality Assistant

195 Staff

73 Fellows

440 Undergraduates

300 Postgraduates

Privacy Statement

Further information

Job title: Hospitality Assistant

Location: Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1RF

Reports to: Senior Hospitality Assistant and Front of House Manager

Salary: £26,320 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week on a shift system covering seven days, including evenings and weekends.

Health and Safety:

Persons engaged in work for Pembroke College must adopt a responsible attitude towards health and safety and comply with any procedures as required by the College in order to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of themselves, their colleagues and any other persons that may be affected by their actions. They must be prepared to undertake any training required in relation to health and safety or which is identified as necessary in relation to their work. The College operates a non-smoking policy; smoking is only permitted in the designated smoking areas.

Safer Recruitment:

As part of our safer recruitment practices posts will be subject to the relevant compliance checks including an enhanced DBS check where this is appropriate.

Equality Statement:

We are committed to creating an environment where people of all backgrounds can thrive and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, identity, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age.

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