Sous Chef

Houston and Hawkes - Vodafone Three Stoke; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals on duty

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

CODE Hospitality membership

Learning and development opportunities

Career progression

Job summary

Houston & Hawkes is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to join our kitchen team at a leading corporate workplace in Stoke-on-Trent. You will work closely with the Head Chef to deliver fresh, beautifully presented food and a consistently excellent customer experience.

This role offers a Monday to Friday pattern, a collaborative environment, and opportunities to develop the kitchen team. You should have strong kitchen skills, a passion for fresh ingredients, and a careful eye for detail.

Qualifications

• Hands-on chef with strong kitchen skills and a passion for fresh food.
• Strong food safety knowledge including allergens and kitchen compliance.
• Leadership and development skills to support and motivate the kitchen team.
• Excellent organisational ability and ability to stay calm during busy service.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef in the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Prepare and deliver fresh, seasonal dishes to consistently high standards
• Bring creativity and flair to menus, food presentation and daily specials
• Help lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team
• Maintain excellent standards of food quality, consistency and service
• Support stock control, ordering, portion management and food waste reduction
• Work closely with the wider catering team to deliver a seamless customer experience
• Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, allergen awareness and kitchen safety

Skills

Cooking skills

Food safety

Allergen awareness

Leadership

Organisation

Calm under pressure

Job description

SOUS CHEF

Stoke-on-Trent | £30,000 per annum | Monday to Friday

Fresh food. Brilliant people. Exceptional standards.

Houston & Hawkes is looking for a talented Sous Chef to join our kitchen team at a leading corporate workplace in Stoke-on-Trent.

We’re looking for a hands‑on chef with a genuine passion for fresh food, strong kitchen skills and a real eye for detail. Working closely with the Head Chef, you’ll help deliver delicious, beautifully presented food and a consistently excellent experience for our customers.

This is a fantastic opportunity to bring creativity, organisation and positive leadership to a professional workplace kitchen while enjoying a Monday-to-Friday working pattern.

THE ROLE

• Support the Head Chef in the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Prepare and deliver fresh, seasonal dishes to consistently high standards
• Bring creativity and flair to menus, food presentation and daily specials
• Help lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team
• Maintain excellent standards of food quality, consistency and service
• Support stock control, ordering, portion management and food waste reduction
• Work closely with the wider catering team to deliver a seamless customer experience
• Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene, allergen awareness and kitchen safety

WHAT YOU’LL BRING

• Previous experience as a Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous Chef ready for the next step
• Confident cooking skills and a genuine passion for fresh, quality ingredients
• A positive, supportive approach to leading and developing others
• Excellent organisation and the ability to remain calm during busy service
• Good understanding of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance
• Commercial awareness and pride in producing food that looks as good as it tastes

WHY JOIN HOUSTON & HAWKES?

• Monday to Friday working pattern
• Your birthday off every year
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Free meals on duty
• Pension scheme and life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• CODE Hospitality membership
• Foodie Socials and company celebrations, including our Summer Awards and Christmas Party
• Learning, development and opportunities for career progression

ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES

Houston & Hawkes is an award-winning independent contract caterer, creating fresh, creative food and exceptional hospitality experiences in some of the UK’s most prestigious workplaces. We are a Certified B Corp and a recipient of the King’s Award for Enterprise, with a people-first culture built around quality, care and ambition.

If you’re a passionate Sous Chef who loves great food and takes pride in leading by example, we’d love to hear from you.