Kitchen Assistant

Forest Holidays; Peebles; On-site; GBP 14,445 - 20,573; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

5% quarterly bonus

Enhanced parental leave

Long service awards

Company pension

Volunteer day

Subsidised meals

Wellbeing events

Discounts on forest stays

Job summary

Forest Holidays is seeking a Kitchen Assistant at Glentress Forest (Peebles). The role is a part-time, 16-hour-per-week position with a £12.71 per hour rate, requiring a driving licence due to location accessibility.

You will support back-of-house kitchen operations, assist with food prep, and occasionally help front-of-house during busy periods. Work in a scenic forest location, maintain high cleanliness standards, manage deliveries and stock, and contribute to a friendly guest experience.

Qualifications

• Experience in a kitchen environment is advantageous.
• Friendly, proactive attitude with good customer service.
• Strong communication and attention to detail are essential.

Responsibilities

• Clean and sterilise kitchen surfaces, walls, stoves, ovens, grills and sinks.
• Wash pots, pans, dishes and load the dishwasher during service.
• Clean the kitchen after close and prepare for the next day.
• Organise and store deliveries and stock areas.
• Assist with basic food preparation and ingredient prep.
• Support front-of-house tasks during busy periods as needed.
• Assist chefs and kitchen team to maintain smooth operations.

Skills

Kitchen experience

Customer service

Communication

Attention to detail

Job description

Key Details:

• Location: Glentress Forest (Peebles)
• Salary: £12.71 per hour
• Working Hours: Part-time, 16 hours.
• Days of Work: 2 days out of 7, working between the hours of 8am and 9pm.
• Transport: Please note that our location is not accessible by public transport. Therefore, a valid driving licence and access to a car, or another reliable means of transport, are essential for this role.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Kitchen Assistant to join our lovely team at Glentress Forest.

Work in one of the UK’s most beautiful forest locations, developing your skills while providing outstanding service to our guests. Surrounded by swaying trees, thriving wildlife, and wide-open skies, you’ll enjoy fresh forest air and immerse yourself in a truly scenic setting.

About the Kitchen Assistant Role:

As a Kitchen Assistant, you’ll be based in our Forest Retreat, the heart of the location - providing a relaxed space to eat, drink, and unwind throughout their stay. In this role, you’ll play an important behind-the-scenes role in keeping our kitchen operations running smoothly, safely, and efficiently while helping to create the perfect Forest Feeling experience for every guest.

This is a varied and hands-on role where no two days are the same. You’ll support the wider food and beverage team with maintaining high cleanliness standards, assisting with food preparation, organising deliveries and stock areas, and ensuring the kitchen is always ready for service. While your primary focus will be back of house, there may also be occasions where you’ll support front of house operations during busy periods, helping to deliver excellent customer service across the Retreat.

With no late-night openings, this role offers a great opportunity to build experience within hospitality while maintaining a healthier work/life balance.

Your Responsibilities:

• Cleaning and sterilising countertops, kitchen walls, stoves, ovens, grills and sinks
• Pot wash and table cleaning in the café
• Cleaning the entire kitchen once it is closed to ensure it is ready for the next day
• Maintaining the food storage areas like freezers and refrigerators
• Receiving deliveries and organising them in the kitchen
• Washing dirty dishes like cutlery, pots, cutting boards and pans or loading dishes into the dishwasher
• Removing kitchen waste from waste containers and disposing of them properly
• Cleaning and maintaining cooking equipment like cookers, pots and food mixers
• Supporting the Chef in basic food preparation like cutting ingredients, peeling and washing food items
• Providing assistance to Cooks and other kitchen staff, as needed.
• Providing support working front of house when required.

What Are We Looking For?

Our ideal Kitchen Assistant is passionate about the little details - you’re the kind of person who gets how important cleanliness is and is keen to help our busy Kitchen team achieve a smooth shift and have everything they need to work efficiently for our guests.

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience working in a kitchen previously is preferable.
• A friendly, positive, and helpful attitude.
• Passion for delivering an outstanding customer service.
• Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.

Who Are Forest Holidays?

We’re a team of 800 people, caring for UK forests and creating unique stays in nature where guests can truly switch off and reconnect. If you’re looking for a career where you can make a real difference, and be part of something meaningful, you've found the right place.

Why Join Us?

As a valued member of our team, you’ll enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including:

• Generous holiday allowance - Take the time you need to recharge
• Performance-based bonuses - Earn a 5% bonus (paid quarterly) when customer service targets are met
• Enhanced parental leave - (24 weeks maternity, 3 weeks paternity at full pay).
• Long service awards and company events - Celebrate success with your team
• Pension scheme - Secure your future with our company pension
• One full paid day to volunteer - Give back to a cause you care about
• Subsidised meals - Discounted food when working on location
• Health cash plan & life assurance - Covered by the company to keep you protected
• Wellbeing events & activities - Focus on your mental and physical wellness
• Save on breaks - Discounted and last-minute stays at Forest Holidays and Sykes Cottages for you, your friends & family.
• Hundreds of discounts - Save on top brands across the UK

Please note: If successful in the role, any job offer will be subject to pre-employment checks, including a basic criminal record check.

Pay Rates for Aged 16 and 17:

• 16 years: £8.00 per hour
• 17 years: £10.85 per hour

Reasonable Adjustments:

We’re all about diversity, inclusion, and bringing your authentic self to work. Need adjustments for the recruitment process? Just ask, our team is happy to help.