Pastry Chef

Holroyd Howe; Radstock; On-site; GBP 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company is seeking a talented Pastry Chef to join their kitchen team at Downside School. The role involves preparing a variety of high-quality desserts, supporting the culinary operation while innovatively contributing to the food service. The ideal candidate will have experience in pastry and a passion for creativity, along with a strong understanding of food hygiene and safety. This position offers a salary of £32,000 per annum along with numerous employee benefits, including holiday and development opportunities.

Benefits

28 days holiday

Volunteering days

Enhanced maternity leave

Training & development opportunities

Pension & life insurance

Employee discounts

Free meals while at work

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a pastry chef or similar role.
• Genuine passion for pastry and creativity.
• Strong understanding of food safety and hygiene.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present high-quality desserts and baked goods.
• Collaborate with chef to create seasonal dessert menus.
• Maintain an organised and hygienic pastry section.
• Support food preparation for events.

Skills

Experience in pastry

Creativity in menu development

Attention to detail

Food safety knowledge

Team player

Job description

Company Description

Job Title: Pastry Chef
Location: Downside School - BA3 4RJ
Contract Type: 52 weeks, perm (however we are able to look at term-time only if this is your preference.)
Salary: £32,000 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 & HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels

About the Role

We are looking for a talented and creative Pastry Chef to join the kitchen team at Downside 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.

Our mission is simple: to provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their jobs, we invest in their training and development. 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

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 requiredConfident 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.