Pastry Chef – Guildford, England

Holroyd Howe; Guildford; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company is seeking a Pastry Chef for a prestigious independent school in Guildford. The role involves leading a kitchen team to deliver high-quality baked goods and maintain culinary standards while enjoying a term-time schedule. Ideal candidates will have experience in a similar role and a passion for exceptional dining. This opportunity provides a balanced work-life structure with a focus on innovation and quality.

Benefits

28 days holiday

3 volunteering days

24 weeks’ enhanced maternity leave

Bespoke training and development opportunities

Pension and life insurance

Free meals while at work

Qualifications

• Proven experience working as a Sous Chef or similar role.
• Strong understanding of food safety and health & safety practices.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in all aspects of kitchen operations.
• Prepare and produce a range of high-quality baked goods.
• Maintain consistency and presentation standards in baked items.
• Assist in preparing breakfast and lunch, ensuring quality.
• Train and supervise kitchen staff to ensure smooth operations.

Skills

Experience as a Sous Chef or similar role

Knowledge of cooking techniques and cuisines

Understanding of food safety practices

Ability to work in high-pressure environments

Attention to detail

Strong communication skills

Job description

Pastry Chef – Guildford, England

Company Description

Pastry Chef – Term-Time Only! (40 Working Weeks)
Location: RGS Prep, Guildford, GU1 2EL
Hourly Rate: £16.00 per hour
Working Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Benefits:

• 28 days holiday
• 3 volunteering days
• 3 days grandparent leave
• 24 weeks’ enhanced maternity leave
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts via Perkbox app (high street shops, holidays & cinema)
• Access to a wellbeing hub and employee assistance programme
• Free meals while at work
• Career development opportunities
• HIT Apprenticeships available for all experience levels

About the Role:

Are you an experienced and innovative Pastry Chef, or Baker with a passion for delivering high-quality dining experiences? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to lead and inspire a kitchen team at RGS Prep, Guildford, a prestigious independent school.

As our next Pastry Chef, you will play a key role in delivering exceptional food service, supporting the Pastry Chef in menu planning, kitchen operations, and maintaining high culinary standards. You will be part of a fast-paced, professional environment catering for boys aged 3-11 years, providing nutritious and delicious meals throughout the school day.

With a term-time schedule and working hours of 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM, this role offers an excellent work-life balance, allowing you to focus on your passion for cooking while maintaining personal time outside of work.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in all aspects of kitchen operations, including menu planning, food preparation, and stock control

• Prepare and produce a range of high-quality baked goods, pastries, and desserts from scratch.

• Maintain consistency, creativity, and presentation standards across all bakery and pastry items.

• Assist in the preparation and service of breakfast and lunch, ensuring meals are well-balanced, appealing, and meet dietary requirements
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene and kitchen safety in line with company policies and food regulations
• Train and supervise kitchen staff to ensure smooth daily operations and a positive working environment
• Help to manage stock levels and control food costs while minimizing waste
• Support the preparation of hospitality events and school functions as required

Qualifications

• Proven experience working as a Sous Chef or similar role
• Knowledge of various cooking techniques and cuisines
• Strong understanding of food safety and health & safety practices
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills
• Strong communication and teamwork abilities

Additional Information

Holroyd Howe is 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.

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.

We pride ourselves on:

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of our thinking; always mindful of the ethics of our sourcing and how we prepare our meals.

Nutrition

We take nutrition seriously and understand the impact a healthy diet has on the fundamental years of development. Meals are always freshly prepared from scratch and packed with nutritious ingredients.

Food Innovation

We offer a wide portfolio of training opportunities and experiences, which attracts chefs who are passionate about culinary excellence and menu innovation to our team.

From tasting tables, theme days and food theatre, to chef demonstrations and supplier showcases, we create engaging and fun dining experiences for our students. We work together to make mealtimes exploratory, quirky, and fun for our pupils, helping them build strong and healthy relationships with food.

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.

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