Sous Chef – Excellent work life balance! – Buckingham, England

Holroyd Howe; Buckingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading contract catering company in Buckingham is seeking a dedicated Sous Chef to join their culinary team. This role focuses on delivering exceptional dining experiences at Stowe School, with a structured Monday to Friday schedule and opportunities for overtime. Candidates should have a culinary background and a passion for food service. Join a dynamic environment committed to career development and innovation.

Benefits

28 days holiday including bank holidays

Pension and life insurance

Free meals while at work

Bespoke training opportunities

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a similar role within contract catering preferred.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure in a high-volume kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Assist in food preparation, production, and service.
• Ensure quality and presentation of dishes meet company standards.
• Supervise and train kitchen staff.

Skills

Food safety standards knowledge

Multitasking

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Culinary degree or relevant certifications

Job description

Sous Chef – Excellent work life balance! – Buckingham, England

Company Description

Title: Sous Chef

Location: Stowe Castle Rd, Buckingham MK18, UK

Salary:Up to £40,000 per annum

Benefits:

• 28 days holiday including bank holidays
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Pension and life insurance
• Discounts available on our HAPI app; high street shops, holidays & cinema
• Wellbeing hub
• Access to employee assistance programme
• Free meals whilst at work
• Career development opportunities
• HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels

Are you an experienced and creativeSous Chefwith a passion for delivering exceptional dining experiences and ready to take the next step in their career? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to play a key role in the culinary team at Stowe School, a leading independent school nestled in the heart of Buckingham.

The school operates year-round, with several hospitality & events across evenings and weekends. However, this is a Monday – Friday, term-time contract so we ensure a well-organised schedule across our growing team to help you maintain a positive work-life balance. Additionally there here are plenty of opportunities to work overtime during these events to boost your earning potential.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a passionate Sous Chef who is eager to advance their career. If you are enthusiastic about working in a prestigious setting and ready to take your career to the next level, this role provides a solid foundation for growth at our flag ship site, within our leading contract-catering company

Job Description

As a Sous Chef you will collaborate with our culinary team to craft flavourful dishes that nourish both body and mind

As well as having an excellent presentation, organisational and communication skills, you will be able to demonstrate a real passion for food & service and possess bags of enthusiasm.

• Assist the Executive Chef in all aspects of food preparation, production, and service.
• Ensure the quality and presentation of all dishes meet the company’s standards and client expectations.
• Supervise and train kitchen staff, kitchen assistants, ensuring adherence to food safety and sanitation procedures.
• Assist in menu planning and development, taking into consideration dietary restrictions, nutritional guidelines, and seasonal ingredients.
• Oversee stock control and ordering to maintain appropriate inventory levels while minimizing waste.
• Collaborate with the catering team to execute special events, themed dinners, and other culinary initiatives.
• Maintain a clean and organised kitchen environment, always following health and safety regulations.
• Support the Head Chef in administrative tasks such as scheduling, budgeting, and maintaining records of food costs and inventory.
• Stay updated on industry trends, culinary techniques, and new ingredients to continuously enhance the menu offerings and overall dining experience.
• Foster a positive working environment by demonstrating leadership qualities, effective communication, and teamwork.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working in a similar role within a contract catering company or educational institution preferred.
• Culinary degree or relevant certifications from a recognized culinary institute.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards and best practices.
• Ability to multitask and work efficiently under pressure in a high-volume kitchen environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.
• Fun and enthusiastic
• Have excellent organisation skills.
• Be a team player and enjoy succeeding as a team.
• Have a flexible approach to work.

Additional Information

Holroyd Howe is 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.

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.

We pride ourselves on:

Sustainability

Sustainability is at the heart of our thinking; always mindful of the ethics of our sourcing and how we prepare our meals.

Nutrition

We take nutrition seriously and understand the impact a healthy diet has on the fundamental years of development. Meals are always freshly prepared from scratch and packed with nutritious ingredients.

Food Innovation

We offer a wide portfolio of training opportunities and experiences, which attracts chefs who are passionate about culinary excellence and menu innovation to our team.

From tasting tables, theme days and food theatre, to chef demonstrations and supplier showcases, we create engaging and fun dining experiences for our students. We work together to make mealtimes exploratory, quirky, and fun for our pupils, helping them build strong and healthy relationships with food.

“Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe are regarded as regulated activity, it is an offence to apply for a role in regulated activity if you are barred from working with children, therefore we will require an Enhanced DBS which includes a Barred List check for all successful applicants. We will also require shortlisted applicants to provide appropriate information regarding any criminal offences and shortlisted applicants will be subject to an online search of public available information on suitability to work with children.“

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

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