Kitchen Assistant

Serco Group Plc; England; On-site; GBP 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading public service company in the UK is seeking kitchen staff at Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre. The role includes supporting chefs, managing food safety, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates will have Food Safety qualifications and a full UK driving licence. The company offers various benefits, including onsite parking and meals, in a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Pension up to 6%

Employee Assistance Programme

Free onsite parking

Free staff meals every shift

Uniform provided

Comprehensive onsite training

Overtime paid at time and a half

Access to employee networks for diversity

Qualifications

• Food Safety Level 2 or 3 (or willingness to gain this).
• Knowledge of HACCP and allergen procedures.
• Good teamwork, communication, and basic computer skills.
• Essential full UK driving licence due to location.

Responsibilities

• Support chefs in preparing varied menus, including special diets.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene regulations are followed.
• Safely manage food storage, delivery, and waste disposal.
• Record food production in line with HACCP and allergen controls.
• Participate in quality checks and hospitality services.
• Support safety, safeguarding, and security procedures.

Skills

Food Safety Level 2 or 3

Knowledge of HACCP and allergen procedures

Teamwork

Communication skills

Basic computer skills

Full UK driving licence

Job description

Responsibilities

• Support chefs in preparing varied menus, including special diets and culturally appropriate meals
• Ensure food safety and hygiene regulations are strictly followed
• Safely manage food storage, delivery, and waste disposal
• Record food production in line with HACCP, allergen controls, and audit standards
• Participate in quality checks and hospitality services
• Understand and support safety, safeguarding, and security procedures
• Experience in a catering or kitchen setting (fast‑paced food service environment)

Qualifications

• Food Safety Level 2 or 3 (or willingness to gain this)
• Knowledge of HACCP and allergen procedures
• Good teamwork, communication, and basic computer skills
• Full UK driving licence (essential due to location)

Why Serco?

A place you can make an impact - You'll do interesting work that matters - delivering essential services that touch people's lives.

A place you can count on - Our diverse UK‑wide operations offer unrivalled opportunities to learn and develop. You'll be able to broaden your experience and apply your skills in new ways.

A place for you - We're a motivated team who will encourage you and help you to succeed within a supportive and safe culture.

What we offer

• Pension up to 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Chance to contribute to innovation in public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• A Serco benefits portal offering a wide range of discounts for major high street brands in Retail, Leisure and Hospitality
• Access to our employee networks, which support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower diverse groups including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

About Yarl's Wood IRC

Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre has been managed by Serco since 2007. It's a secure facility where women without legal immigration status are held awaiting deportation or a decision on their case. Our centre is dedicated to ensuring a safe, supportive and respectful environment for these women, during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

What makes us unique is the diverse community we care for and the specialist services we provide, including welfare and healthcare support; faith and cultural provision; and education, recreation and work opportunities.

At Yarl's Wood, you'll be part of a team where compassion, innovation, and impact come together making it a truly rewarding place to work.

About Serco

Serco, a fast‑growing company serving governments around the globe, delivers public services across justice, immigration, defence, leisure, healthcare, transport, and citizen services. We are committed to delivering and improving public services for the benefit of everyone, guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride.

Our inclusive recruitment process: We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are a Disability Confident Leader, a top three Great British Employer of Veterans, a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard, championing fair access to employment and equal opportunities for all.

We support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the 'Ban the Box' pledge (some roles may be exempt due to security requirements). As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.

We are an innovative, forward‑thinking organisation and offer flexible working arrangements where possible, making reasonable adjustments from interview through to employment.

Join Serco and impact a better future together. Apply today.

Salary: £25,769 per annum
Shift Pattern: 3 days on / 3 days off | 12‑hour shifts (7:00 AM - 7:00 PM)

You'll benefit from:

• Free onsite parking
• Free staff meals every shift
• Uniform provided
• Comprehensive onsite training
• Overtime paid at time and a half

Join Serco at Yarl's Wood, where your kitchen experience can have real purpose - helping to provide dignity, care, and stability through nutritious meals to people in a challenging time of their lives. This is a busy, high‑energy environment that's ideal if you thrive in a fast‑paced kitchen. You'll fit right in if you've worked in roles like kitchen assistant, catering assistant, kitchen crew member, or kitchen team member.