Sous Chef

Thomas Franks Ltd.; Reading; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic and innovative catering company as a Sous Chef in a vibrant school environment. This role offers the chance to showcase your culinary skills while ensuring top-notch service and hygiene standards. With a commitment to fresh food and exceptional customer service, you will play a vital role in creating memorable dining experiences for students and staff alike. Enjoy a full-time position with opportunities for career progression and a variety of employee benefits, including free meals and training programs. If you're passionate about food and service, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Benefits

Wider wallet scheme

Free meals on duty

Volunteers leave

Enhanced maternity leave

Cycle to work scheme

Recommend a friend bonus

Individual training and development

Apprenticeship programme

Team social events

Workplace pension

Qualifications

• Experience in food preparation and customer service environment preferred.
• Ability to demonstrate good understanding of verbal and written English.

Responsibilities

• Prepare food service areas and ensure prompt meal service.
• Maintain hygiene standards and assist in stock management.
• Serve customers while adhering to company standards.

Skills

Team working abilities

Listening skills

Food hygiene certificate

Customer service

Ability to manage heavy lifting

Education

Food hygiene certification

Job description

An independent, co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 11-18 in Pangbourne, West Berkshire. Catering for 650 students and teachers. We offer a core feeding of breakfast, break time snacks, lunch, supper, sixth form café and a strong hospitality offering. We are offering a full time contract working 52 weeks a year, 40 hours per week. This is a 7-day operation so working pattern would be 5 out of 7. Additional benefit of this location is free on-site parking

We currently have an excellent opportunity for a creative and effective Sous Chef to join the team at one of our fabulous locations in Pangbourne, West Berkshire

Key responsibilities:

• Prepare all Food service areas for the day's business relating to that meal service.
• Ensure that the prompt service of all meals and service at all times to the company / clients standards.
• To ensure that the methods of preparation and presentation comply with company expectations.
• Prepare, set-up, serve, clear, clean and store away any food, beverage or equipment required for daily service.
• Prepare all food for sale/service, following good hygiene and safety practices and to the standard specified.
• Restock and replenish stocks and consumables as required during service periods, pre-empt customer needs and achieve optimum customer service delivery.
• Keep the Front of house informed of any food running out and pre-empt any delays in customer waiting.
• Complete all / any necessary cleaning/hygiene duties.
• Serve customers, visitors and guest in line with company and client service standards and expectations.
• Empty, remove and store rubbish / recycle rubbish in the correct place.
• To assist in the preparation and placing of orders.
• Ensure that the kitchen operates in line with current health & safety regulations.
• To ensure all area in the Kitchen are left in a clean state at the end of each shift.
• To attend meetings and training courses as required.
• Notify the head chef of stock movements to ensure all products are ordered for forthcoming menus.

General Responsibilities:

• Ensure attendance to all staff meetings as required.
• Ensure that all policies and procedural requirements of both legislation and company are adhered to in order to promote a professional and flexible approach at all times.
• Ensure that the correct uniform is worn neatly and cleanly at all times.
• To ensure personal presentation is of the highest standard at all times.
• Ensure all necessary checks are carried out in the service and associated areas for food temperatures.
• Carry out all reasonable request of the management.
• As required provide cover for other staff during periods of absence.
• Be conscientious with regard to Health & Safety and report any hazards to the Head Chef or Location manager.

Key personal skills and attributes:

• Team working abilities, Listening skills, the ability to work on own initiative, impeccable personal presentation, hygiene and behaviour to others, Food hygiene certificate preferred.
• The ability to be adaptable and be flexible as necessary. Reliable, Honest and able to demonstrate an open attentive approach to customer service.
• Willingness to learn new skills and take some responsibility.
• Ability to manage some moderately heavy lifting, carrying, and pushing.

Knowledge / competencies:

• Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good understanding and use of verbal English.
• Ability to demonstrate reasonable / good standard of written English and reading skills.
• Similar experience of customer and / or food preparation environment is preferred.

Benefits

• Wider wallet scheme (discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms etc).
• Free meals on duty
• Volunteers leave - up to one day per year.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Recommend a friend bonus.
• Unrivalled individual training and development.
• Well established apprenticeship programme.
• Team & company social events.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Workplace pension.
• Excellent career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About us

Thomas Franks is a founder led, fresh food catering business with a focus on excellence and service delivered with individuality, passion and style. We are unique in every approach and our clients, and our people are paramount to our daily success.

Disclaimer

All applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this role.

An enhanced DBS, Identity & reference checks (covering the last five years) will form part of the selection process. As an organisation using the Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants' suitability for positions of trust, Thomas Franks Ltd complies fully with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure based on conviction or other information revealed. However, for any post in a school please be aware that any application is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such any criminal conviction, caution or bind-over must be declared.

Diversity and Inclusion at Thomas Franks

We actively encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds and continue to develop a culture of growth and inclusion and would like to invite applications from groups who are currently under-represented, because we believe greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life.