Pastry Chef

WSH Group; Southampton; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday (including bank)a0hol

3 volunteering days

3 days grandparent leave

24 weeks enhanced maternity leave

Training & development opportunities

Pension & life insurance

Perkbox discounts

Wellbeing hub & EAP

Free meals while at work

Career development & HIT Apprenticesh.

Job summary

Holroyd Howe, a leading UK contract caterer for independent schools, invites applications for a Pastry Chef at King Edward School, Southampton. You will manage the pastry section, produce desserts, breads and baked goods, and support high-volume operations.

The role is term-time only, 37.5 hours per week, with a starting hourly rate of £14.60. You’ll work alongside a professional kitchen team to deliver high-quality patisserie and ensure allergen safety.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-volume production is preferred.
• Proven pastry chef, baker or patisserie background in catering/hospitality.
• Passion for pastry with creative menu ideas.
• Attention to detail and presentation.
• Understanding of food safety, allergens, and kitchen hygiene.
• Able to work collaboratively and independently as needed.
• Comfortable in a school environment and with youth.

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.

Skills

High volume production

Pastry chef / Baker

Creativity in pastry

Food safety & hygiene

Team player

School environment familiarity

Job description

Job Title: Pastry Chef
Location:King Edward School, Southampton -SO15 5JQ, UK
Contract Type:Term-time only
Working Hours:37.5 Hours
Hourly rate: £14.60 per hour (Mon - Fri)

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 King Edward School, Southampton. You will be responsible for the pastry section 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, experience in a similar high volume environment would be beneficial. 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:

• Experience in high volume production is preferred here
• 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.