Trainee Chef (Nights)

apetito; Trowbridge; Hybrid; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Living Wage

25 days holiday

Discretionary bonus

Pension

Life assurance

Free parking

Turkey voucher

apetito perks scheme

Job summary

apetito is the UK's leading food supplier to health and social care sectors, serving over 1,300 care homes and education settings. This Prep Department role offers 40 hours per week, Sunday to Thursday, 22:00–06:00, with progression from Grade 4 to Grade 5 after NVQ training.

Starting pay is £14.78–£15.93 per hour depending on NVQ status, plus shift allowance, bonus and benefits. The company emphasizes quality, sustainability, and a Living Wage commitment.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery (or willingness to complete)
• Level 2 Food Hygiene

Responsibilities

• Weigh products to be used in recipes.
• Control left over stock and apply FIFO methodology.
• Cook products following the recipes supplied.
• Clean pots between products and liaise with High Care Ops when pump strip is required when changing from meat to vegetarian products, different species.
• Complete paperwork 100% fully, accurately and legibly - this is a legal requirement.
• It is also expected that personnel in this role will be able to work in other areas as required.
• Finished cooking must be right first time; check with the area lead if unsure.
• Inform the area lead if there is a potential issue with product quality.
• Ensure accurate yields to maintain consistent quality and prevent devaluations.
• Taste test every cook with another staff member before release to High Care Kitchen.
• Take consistency readings against specification to ensure batch consistency.

Skills

Teamwork

Positive attitude

Willingness to learn

Education

NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery

Level 2 Food Hygiene

Job description

The Low Risk Kitchen is keen to promote excellent team work by employing people who have a positive attitude, who are prepared to learn a number of skills so that they are able to work in various positions within the Prep Department. By achieving this, the department is in the best position to produce quality products, in an efficient manner. We aim to not only achieve our targets but improve on them as well.

This position is working 40 hours per week, Sunday - Thursday 22.00 - 06.00. If you are starting the role, and currently hold an NVQ Level 2 in Professional Cookery you will start on a Grade 5 (hourly rate of 15.93). If you are starting the role with no NVQ in Professional Cookery, you will start the role on a Grade 4 (hourly rate of 14.78) apetito will put you through the training, and you will move onto a Grade 5 (hourly rate of 15.93) when this is successfully completed.

£14.78 per hour + Shift Allowance + Bonus + Benefits

Who we are

apetito is the UK's leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings.

Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK's largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.

Responsibilities

• Weigh products to be used in recipes.
• Control left over stock and apply F.I.F.O methodology.
• Cook products following the recipes supplied.
• Clean pots between products and liaise with High Care Op when pump strip is required when changing from meat to vegetarian products, different species.
• Complete Paperwork 100% fully, accurately and legibly - this is a legal requirement.
• It is also expected that persons in this role will be expected to be able to work in other areas as required
• Finished cooking's must be right first time. Ensure you carry out tasks to the required standard - if you are unsure you must check with the person running the area.
• Inform the person running the area if you think there is a potential issue with the quality of the product.
• Ensure accurate yields are attained to keep consistent product quality and enable zero devaluations for over yields.
• Taste test every cooking with another member of staff before release to the High Care Kitchen for assembly use.
• Take consistency readings against agreed specification to ensure consistency between batches fills.

About you

Essential

• NVQ level 2 inProfessional Cookery - or willingness to complete
• Level 2 Food Hygiene

Personal Qualities

• Help the business be environmentally friendly:
• by keeping waste to a minimum (e.g. making products right first time)
• Have a positive attitude; will have to learn other tasks in the Prep Department if required
• Promote good team work - help others. It's not my job does not promote good team work
• Have a desire to help the team meet the department targets
• Undertake any training made available/organised

This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the skilled worker route as it does not meet the minimumrequirements set out under the UK Immigration Rules.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary - accredited Living Wage employer
• 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme - employer matched contributions up to 4%
• Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
• Subsidised canteen
• Free parking
• Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
• apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of.

We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers.

We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people.

We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer.
Learn more about apetito's commitment to a more sustainable future .

We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we're on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.