Pastry Chef

WSH Group; Blean; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Volunteer days

Maternity leave 24 weeks

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Free meals at work

Apprenticeship & career development

Job summary

Holroyd Howe is seeking a talented Pastry Chef to join the kitchen team at Kent College School. You will produce a range of desserts, breads and baked goods to a consistently high standard for pupils, staff, and guests.

You will join a team of professionals dedicated to fresh, innovative food service for independent schools. The role emphasizes allergen management, food safety, and quality presentation in a school setting.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a Pastry Chef role, ideally within contract catering, hotel or high-end food service.
• Passion for pastry with creativity and innovation in menus.
• Strong attention to detail and presentation.
• Good knowledge of food safety and allergen management and kitchen hygiene.
• Proactive team player who can also work independently.
• Comfortable working in a school environment with young people.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present a range of desserts, cakes and baked goods to a high standard.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and kitchen team to create innovative seasonal dessert menus.
• Maintain an organized, hygienic pastry section and complete daily tasks to specification.
• Support with food preparation for school dining and hospitality events.
• Follow all food safety, hygiene and allergen procedures diligently.
• Cater to pupils' dietary needs including allergens and specific requirements.
• Support healthy eating initiatives and pupil wellbeing.
• Adhere to allergen controls throughout operations.

Skills

Pastry chef experience

Patisserie creativity

Attention to detail

Food safety & allergen mgmt

Team player

School environment

Job description

Company Description

Job Title: Pastry Chef
Location: Kings College Seniors
Contract Type: Term Time + 6 Weeks
Salary: £26500 Per Annum

Why Join Us?

• 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• 24 weeks enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development through apprenticeships for all experience levels.

About the Role:

We are looking for a talented and creative Pastry Chef to join the kitchen team at Kent College School. You will be responsible for producing a variety of high-quality baked goods, breads and desserts, supporting the wider culinary operation while adding a distinctive flair to the school’s food offering. From traditional bakes to innovative patisserie, your work will play a key part in delivering an exceptional dining experience for pupils, staff, and guests.

You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK’s leading contract caterers, providing fresh innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

The safety and wellbeing of the people we serve is at the heart of everything we do. A key element is effective allergen management; achieved through training, communication, and care, we create mealtimes where every pupil has a safe experience. Our mission is simple: to provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their job and our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare and present a range of freshly made desserts, cakes, and baked goods to a consistently high standard
• Collaborate with the Head Chef and wider kitchen team to create innovative, seasonal dessert menus
• Maintain an organised and hygienic pastry section, ensuring all daily tasks are completed to specification
• Support with food preparation and production for both core school dining and hospitality events
• Follow all food safety, hygiene, and allergen management procedures with diligence and care
• Cater thoughtfully to pupils' individual dietary needs, including allergens and specific requirements
• Champion the school’s healthy eating ethos, contributing positively to food education and pupil wellbeing
• Accountability for following and championing allergen controls

Qualifications

Candidate Profile:

• Demonstrable experience in a Pastry Chef, Baker, or patisserie role, ideally within a contract catering environment, hotel, or high-end food service setting
• A genuine passion for pastry, with a flair for creativity and innovation in menu development
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring precision in preparation and excellence in presentation
• A strong understanding of food safety, allergen management, and best practices in kitchen hygiene
• A proactive and collaborative team player, with the ability to work independently when required
• Confident and professional when working in a school environment, with an understanding of the needs of young people

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

People first

We're a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.

Great food, always

Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.

Food education

We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.

Respect in everything we do

Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.

Fresh thinking

New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.

Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children.

This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.