Kitchen Porter

Manchester Arndale; Kincardine; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

OCS UK & Ireland is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to support our busy catering operations. You will clean preparation and storage areas, assist with food preparation, wash dishes, receive deliveries, and help keep the kitchen organised to ensure smooth service.

No formal catering qualification is required, though basic certificates like Food Handling are welcome; training will be provided. You must have the right to work in the UK and be able to stand for long periods.

Qualifications

• Commercial kitchen experience is highly valued but not essential
• Basic Catering and Hospitality certificate such as Food Handling or equivalent is desired but not essential as we can provide this for you
• Excellent time management skills and can work under pressure
• Excellent organisational skills are also important
• Can stand for extended periods is often necessary due to the physical nature of the job

Responsibilities

• Cleaning and sanitising all preparation and storage areas, kitchen walls, stoves, sinks, ovens, and grills
• Washing dirty dishes, cutting boards, utensils, and cooking equipment and ensure that all cookware, utensils, and cutlery are clean and ready for service
• Receiving, unpacking all deliveries and checking the delivery against what has been ordered and highlight any discrepancies to the site manager
• Ensure that the food and supply storage areas are organised
• Be responsible for removing the rubbish and emptying of bins, waste, and recycling in the kitchen
• Assisting with food preparation when needed

Skills

Food handling

Time management

Organisational skills

Customer service

Kitchen cleaning

Education

City & Guilds / BTEC / NVQ at basic level

Food Hygiene Level 2

Job description

About The Role

Working Pattern

Monday to Thursday 0700-1430 or 1130-1900, Friday 0700-1430

As part of your role, your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Cleaning and sanitising all preparation and storage areas, kitchen walls, stoves, sinks, ovens, and grills
• Washing dirty dishes, cutting boards, utensils, and cooking equipment and ensure that all cookware, utensils, and cutlery are clean and ready for service
• Receiving, unpacking all deliveries and checking the delivery against what has been ordered and highlight any discrepancies to the site manager
• Ensure that the food and supply storage areas are organised
• Be responsible for removing the rubbish and emptying of bins, waste, and recycling in the kitchen
• Assisting with food preparation when needed

What are we looking for?

• Commercial kitchen experience is highly valued but not essential
• Ideally you will possess a basic Catering and Hospitality certificate such as Food Handling or equivalent is desired but not essential as we can provide this for you
• Excellent time management skills and can work under pressure
• Excellent organisational skills are also important
• Can stand for extended periods is often necessary due to the physical nature of the job

The ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

• Must have the Right to Work in the UK
• City & Guilds certification, BTEC, or NVQ at a basic level is require
• Additionally, completing a food hygiene course at Level 2 would be desirable
• Excellent customer service skills are essential
• Good time-management and organisational abilities

About The Company

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.

Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values -Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.

Why Work for OCS?

Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.

Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.

Retail Perks With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.

Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!

Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.