Senior Chef

Holroyd Howe; Greater London; On-site; GBP 41,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company in Greater London is seeking a Senior Chef to lead their kitchen operations at a student accommodation. The ideal candidate will manage kitchen staff, create innovative menus, and ensure high standards of food quality. Experience in contract catering and a passion for fresh ingredients are essential. This role offers a competitive salary and various benefits, including 28 days holiday and training opportunities.

Benefits

28 days holiday

Volunteering days

Enhanced maternity leave

Free meals while at work

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience as a Senior Chef in contract catering or independent education.
• Passionate about fresh, quality ingredients.
• Knowledge of allergen control required.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations and ensure food quality.
• Create seasonal menus tailored to school requirements.
• Manage kitchen staff recruitment and training.

Skills

Strong leadership skills

Excellent organisational skills

Financial management skills

Knowledge of food trends

Innovative menu creation

Job description

Company Description

Job Title: Senior Chef

Location: Lee Abbey Student Accommodation, London - W8 6JJ

Contract Type: Full time, 52 weeks

Salary: £41,000 per annum + benefits

Plus plenty of overtime opportunities available

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 seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Chef, or Sous Chef ready to take on the new challenge to lead the Culinary Team at Lee Abbey Student Accommodation. You will be responsible for creating exceptional menus, managing kitchen operations, and delivering outstanding food experiences to our pupils, staff, and visitors.

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

• Lead kitchen operations ensuring the highest standards of food quality, safety, and presentation
• Create innovative and seasonal menus tailored to the school’s requirements
• Manage kitchen staff recruitment, training, and development
• Control budgets, stock, and supplier relationships efficientlyEnsure compliance with all food safety, health & safety, and safeguarding policies
• Collaborate with the wider catering and school teams to deliver outstanding customer experiences

Qualifications

Candidate Profile

• Ideally, you will have experience as a Senior Chef within a contract catering environment, preferably in independent education, or a high-profile business and industry setting.
• Strong leadership and team management skills
• Passionate about fresh, quality ingredients and innovative menus
• Excellent organisational, communication, and financial management skills
• Knowledge of current food trends, sustainability, and allergen control

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.

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.