Assistant Chef

ASSISTANT CHEF – RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION CENTRE

Location: Somerset Cultural Centre, Knowle Hall, Bawdrip, Bridgwater, Somerset
Contract: Initial two-year fixed-term contract, with the potential for extension
Hours: 1,040 guaranteed hours per year – equivalent to an average of 20 hours per week, worked on an annualised-hours basis
Pay: £14.00–£14.50 per hour
Additional paid hours: May be available during busy programme periods
Start date: 23rd November or sooner if possible

Fancy something a little different from the usual kitchen job?

Somerset Cultural Centre at Knowle Hall is looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Assistant Chef to join our catering team.

We are a residential education centre welcoming groups of international students to Somerset for short-term educational and cultural programmes. Our menus include a mixture of British, Chinese and East Asian-style dishes, so this is a great opportunity for someone who already has experience of Asian cuisine or who would enjoy developing their skills in this area.

You'll work closely with our Head Chef to prepare and serve fresh, nutritious meals for students, staff and visitors. You'll also act as the Head Chef's second-in-command, taking responsibility for kitchen operations and meal service when the Head Chef isn't on duty.

It's a varied, hands-on role for someone who enjoys cooking, can confidently take responsibility when needed and likes the idea of working somewhere a little different.

What You'll Be Doing

Working alongside our Head Chef and Kitchen Assistants, you'll play an important role in keeping our catering operation running smoothly.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the preparation, cooking and service of breakfast, lunch and evening meals.
• Preparing meals independently and taking responsibility for meal service when the Head Chef isn't on duty.
• Helping prepare packed lunches for excursions and catering for larger partnership-school events.
• Supporting the preparation of meals for different dietary, allergen and cultural requirements.
• Providing work instructions and direction to Kitchen Assistants when the Head Chef is not on duty.
• Helping with stock control, deliveries, food storage and kitchen records.
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen organisation.
• Supporting preparation, deep cleaning and other catering duties between student programmes.

It's a hands-on role, so while you'll have more responsibility than our Kitchen Assistants, you'll still be very much part of the day-to-day cooking, preparation, service and running of the kitchen.

Please Read This Bit Carefully Before Applying!

This is not a traditional 20-hours-every-week position.

The role is contracted for 1,040 guaranteed hours per year, which is equivalent to an average of 20 hours per week across the year.

Our catering requirements are driven by our residential student programmes, so your working hours will vary throughout the year.

When students are staying with us, you'll work more intensive periods which can include early mornings, evenings and weekends.

Between student programmes, you'll work significantly fewer hours and there may be some weeks where no hours are scheduled at all.

During quieter periods, some hours may also be used for preparation, deep cleaning, stock management, training and other catering duties. Where kitchen duties have been completed, you may also be asked to support other areas of the Centre with reasonable duties appropriate to your skills and capabilities.

Your guaranteed contracted hours are therefore worked across the year rather than as a fixed number of hours each week.

Where our operational requirements exceed your contracted annual hours, additional paid hours may also be offered, subject to prior authorisation.

So, if you're looking for exactly 20 hours every week on fixed days, this probably isn't the right role for you. If you like the idea of working more during our busy residential programmes and having much quieter periods between them, it could be a great fit.

What We're Looking For

Experience preparing Chinese or other East Asian cuisine would be particularly welcome, but isn't essential. We're equally interested in chefs who are keen to learn and develop their skills in this area and are ready to take on a little more responsibility.

You'll need to:

• Have good practical cooking and food preparation skills.
• Be confident preparing and delivering meal services independently when required.
• Have a good understanding of food hygiene, allergens and safe food handling.
• Be organised, reliable and able to stay calm during busy meal services.
• Be comfortable taking responsibility when the Head Chef isn't on duty.
• Work well as part of a small team and be confident providing work instructions and direction to Kitchen Assistants when the Head Chef is not on duty.
• Be friendly, respectful and comfortable working in an international environment.
• Be flexible and genuinely able to work around our residential student programmes, including early mornings, evenings and weekends when required.

A Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate or above is required, although we're happy to consider someone willing to obtain this within an agreed period following appointment.

Experience in education, residential or high-volume catering, or working with different cultural food preferences would be an advantage, but isn't essential.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a friendly, international Centre where your role goes beyond a traditional kitchen position.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Work closely with our Head Chef and become an important part of the catering team.
• Take on genuine responsibility as the Head Chef's second-in-command.
• Help prepare a varied range of meals for students and visitors from different cultures and backgrounds.
• Introduce young people from around the world to British food and culture.
• Work as part of an international and multicultural team.
• Enjoy a varied working pattern, with busy residential programme periods followed by significantly quieter periods.
• Become an important part of the wider Knowle Hall team.

If you're an experienced catering professional looking for a role combining great food, responsibility, variety, teamwork and an international environment, we'd be delighted to hear from you.

Safeguarding

Somerset Cultural Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The successful applicant will be required to undergo appropriate pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and confirmation of their right to work in the UK.

How to Apply

Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] to request an application form.

Please note: Applicants will not be considered without a fully completed application form. A CV alone will not be accepted as an application.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and the vacancy may close before the advertised closing date if a suitable candidate is appointed. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Closing date: Friday 9th October 2026
Interviews: Week commencing Monday 12th October 2026
Start date: 23rd November 2026 (or sooner if possible)

Pay: £14.00-£14.50 per hour

Benefits:

• Free parking
• On-site parking

Education:

• GCSE or equivalent (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person