Catering Assistant

We are seeking a reliable, enthusiastic and hardworking Catering Assistant to join our friendly and dedicated kitchen team at Sherrardswood School. If you enjoy working in a busy kitchen, take pride in maintaining high standards and have a passion for providing nutritious meals, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

About Sherrardswood School

Sherrardswood School is a well-established, co-educational independent school providing excellent education and pastoral care for children aged 2 to 18. Set within beautiful grounds in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, our school offers a welcoming and supportive environment where pupils and staff are encouraged to thrive.

At Sherrardswood, we pride ourselves on our strong sense of community, positive relationships and commitment to providing the very best experience for our pupils. Our catering team plays an important part in school life, ensuring that pupils and staff enjoy fresh, nutritious and well-prepared meals each day.

We value every member of our team and are committed to creating a friendly, inclusive and rewarding working environment.

About the Role and You

Contract type: Part-time, permanent, term time
Working hours: 8:00am – 2:00pm, Monday to Friday
Salary: £12.71 per hour
Start date: Immediate start available

As our Catering Assistant, you will work closely with the Head Cook and wider catering team to support the preparation, cooking and serving of nutritious meals for our pupils and staff.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Assisting the Head Cook with the preparation, cooking and presentation of meals, snacks and beverages.
• Preparing ingredients, vegetables, salads and other food items for daily meal services.
• Supporting the serving of meals to pupils and staff in a friendly, professional and efficient manner.
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and food safety in accordance with school procedures.
• Cleaning kitchen equipment, utensils, work surfaces and dining areas, including washing up and scheduled cleaning duties.
• Assisting with the receipt, checking, storage and rotation of food deliveries and supplies.
• Supporting stock control, monitoring supplies and assisting with ordering where required.
• Following food allergen procedures and supporting the safe preparation and serving of meals for pupils with specific dietary requirements.
• Working collaboratively with the catering team to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have previous experience working in a kitchen, catering or food preparation environment, preferably within a school or similar setting.
• Have a good understanding of basic food hygiene, food safety and cleanliness standards.
• Be organised, reliable and able to work efficiently in a busy environment.
• Demonstrate good teamwork and communication skills.
• Be flexible, adaptable and willing to support colleagues when needed.
• Have a friendly, approachable and professional manner.
• Understand the importance of food allergies, dietary requirements and safe food handling.

Why Work at Sherrardswood School?

At Sherrardswood, we recognise that our staff are central to the success of our school. We are committed to providing a supportive working environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to develop.

• As part of our team, you will benefit from:
• Company pension scheme
• Company sick pay
• Life assurance of three times your annual salary, subject to eligibility.
• Free school lunch during working days.
• Refer-a-friend scheme with a financial reward.
• Employee wellbeing and wellness programme.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Free on-site parking.
• Term-time working pattern, offering a positive work-life balance.

If you are a dependable, enthusiastic and team-focused individual who enjoys working in a busy kitchen and wants to make a positive contribution to school life, we would love to hear from you!

Apply today and take the next step towards joining our welcoming catering team at Sherrardswood School. We look forward to receiving your application!

Sherrardswood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants for ALL jobs will undergo appropriate child-protection screening including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to enhanced level, with costs covered by the candidate. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £12.71 per hour

Expected hours: 30.0 per week

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• Health & wellbeing programme
• On-site parking
• Referral programme

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:

• Catering: 1 year (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person