Sous Chef

The Venues Collection; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary & benefits

Annual leave & holidays

Healthcare & wellbeing

Mental health support

Family benefits

Perks & discounts

Pension & life cover

Career development

Meals on duty

Job summary

The Venues Collection is seeking a passionate Sous Chef for Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes. You will work with the Head Chef to deliver great food across restaurant, conferences and events, leading a busy kitchen and mentoring junior staff.

Join a supportive team at a leading hospitality provider within a renowned venue; enjoy excellent benefits and the opportunity to develop your culinary career.

Qualifications

• Previous Sous Chef experience or Senior Chef de Partie ready for next step.
• Passion for food and hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, techniques and menu development.
• Experience leading and developing a kitchen team.
• Good understanding of food costs, stock management and waste minimisation.
• Excellent food safety, hygiene and safety standards.
• Creative approach with enthusiasm for new ideas.
• Strong organisational skills to manage busy kitchen.
• Hands-on leadership and calmness under pressure.
• Flexible hours including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef with day-to-day kitchen operations.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team to thrive.
• Prepare, cook and present dishes to high standards.
• Help plan and deliver menus across restaurant, conferences and events.
• Take responsibility for designated kitchen sections and service flow.
• Assist with food cost management, stock control, ordering and waste reduction.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and safety standards are maintained.
• Collaborate with the hospitality team to deliver great food and service.
• Mentor junior chefs and share knowledge to build confidence.
• Bring fresh ideas to menus and respond to trends.
• Lead by example with a hands-on approach during busy times.

Job description

Sous Chef – Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes | Full Time

Up to £40,872 + excellent benefits including healthcare, wellbeing support, 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, life assurance, meals on duty, and more.

We're looking for...

We're looking for a passionate and talented Sous Chef to join our kitchen team at Kents Hill Park. Working within our busy hotel, conference and events venue, you'll play a key role in delivering fantastic food across a variety of dining experiences, from restaurant service to conferences, weddings and special events. This is a brilliant opportunity for a creative chef who loves leading a team, developing their skills and bringing something special to the table.

About The Venues Collection

The Venues Collection brings together a fantastic portfolio of hotels, conference centres and event spaces across the UK, creating memorable experiences for every guest.

From corporate meetings and conferences to weddings, celebrations and leisure stays, our venues offer something a little different. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional hospitality, great food and outstanding service, all underpinned by brilliant people who genuinely care.

We're passionate about creating welcoming environments where guests feel at home, teams feel supported and everyone has the opportunity to grow. As part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, we're backed by one of the world's largest catering and hospitality businesses, giving our people fantastic opportunities to develop their careers.

Sous Chef – The Role

As Sous Chef, you'll work closely with the Head Chef to help lead the kitchen operation, ensuring everything runs smoothly and consistently delivers great food. You'll be hands-on in the kitchen, supporting your team, maintaining high standards and helping create menus and dishes that keep our guests coming back.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Support the Head Chef with the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring a smooth and efficient operation.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive environment where everyone can thrive.
• Prepare, cook and present dishes to a consistently high standard, ensuring quality, flavour and presentation are always on point.
• Help plan and deliver menus across our restaurant, conference, events and wider hospitality operations.
• Take responsibility for designated kitchen sections, ensuring preparation and service run smoothly.
• Support the management of food costs, stock control, ordering and waste reduction.
• Ensure all food safety, health and safety and hygiene standards are maintained at all times.
• Work closely with the wider hospitality team to deliver brilliant food and service experiences for our guests.
• Support the training and development of junior chefs, sharing your knowledge and helping them build their confidence.
• Bring fresh ideas and creativity to the kitchen, keeping menus exciting and responding to guest feedback and food trends.
• Lead by example, maintaining high standards and a hands on approach during busy services and events.

What we're looking for

• Previous experience as a Sous Chef or an experienced Senior Chef de Partie ready to take the next step.
• A genuine passion for food, cooking and delivering fantastic hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques and menu development.
• Experience leading, motivating and supporting a kitchen team.
• Good understanding of food costs, stock management and minimising waste.
• Excellent knowledge of food safety, hygiene and health and safety standards.
• A creative approach with plenty of enthusiasm and a willingness to bring new ideas to the table.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy kitchen.
• A positive, hands on approach and the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• A flexible approach to working hours, including evenings and weekends when required.

What you'll get in return

• Up to £40,872 salary and full company benefits.
• 23 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, your birthday off, and a holiday purchase scheme.
• Healthcare & wellbeing: Aviva Digicare, Medicash (dental, optical, therapy treatments).
• Mental health support: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Family benefits: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave. 2 days' additional leave after returning from maternity leave, day off for your baby's first birthday, enhanced family leave.
• Perks & discounts: Shopping, entertainment, and travel discounts, 20% off Nuffield Health and 10% off PureGym memberships.
• Financial wellbeing: Pension scheme, Life Assurance, preferred rates on salary finance products.
• Development opportunities: Professional subscriptions, ongoing training and structured career pathways.
• Meals on duty included.

Why Join Us?

The Venues Collection is part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, and we're passionate about creating brilliant experiences for our guests and colleagues.

We believe in celebrating individuality and building inclusive teams where everyone feels they belong. Our diverse team fuels creativity, innovation and excellence.

We're proud to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome candidates from all backgrounds to join us in creating a supportive, empowering workplace where everyone can thrive.

Together, we create memorable experiences – and make every moment count.

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!