Sous Chef

Holroyd Howe; London; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company is seeking a committed Sous Chef to join the kitchen team at St James School, Kensington Olympia. You will be responsible for ensuring high standards in food preparation, safety, and service while supporting culinary events. The ideal candidate has experience in contract catering and a passion for seasonal food. This role offers a competitive salary and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

28 days holiday including bank holidays

Volunteering days

Enhanced maternity leave

Pension & life insurance

Discounts via Perkbox App

Free meals while at work

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Ideally, experience in a contract catering environment or independent education.
• Strong food safety standards are essential.
• Must have excellent teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chef Manager in daily kitchen operations.
• Motivate the team for high food and service standards.
• Ensure food safety and allergen controls are met.

Skills

Experience as a Sous Chef or Chef de Partie

Passion for fresh, seasonal food

Attention to detail

Teamwork and communication skills

Flexible and proactive approach

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Sous Chef
Location: St James School, Kensington Olympia
Contract Type: Term Time, 36 working weeks a year
Salary: £30,000 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 committed and enthusiastic Sous Chef to join the kitchen team at St James School, Olympia. You’ll support food preparation, help maintain high standards, and play a vital role in the delivery of daily meals and special events.

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.

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

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Chef Manager in daily kitchen operations
• Motivate the team to deliver high standards of food and service
• Ensure food safety and allergen controls are consistently met
• Contribute to innovative menu planning
• Manage mise en place and ensure smooth, timely service
• Support events and functions alongside school life

Qualifications

Candidate Profile:

• Ideally, you will have experience as an Sous Chef, or Chef de Partie within a contract catering environment, preferably in independent education, or a high-profile business and industry setting.
• Passionate about fresh, seasonal food and creative presentation
• Strong attention to detail and high food safety standards
• Excellent teamwork and communication skills
• A flexible and proactive approach to work

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.

We require the Right to Work in the UK for consideration for this role.

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.