Warehousing Assistant

Bakehouse Warehousing Assistant

Cake Stories Bakehouse, Gateshead

Role type: Permanent Full time or part time

Salary: £24,784.50 pro-rata

About the role

At Cake Stories we make signature square cakes for cafés and shops (wholesale), online orders and custom cakes. Behind every cake that goes out of the door is a lot of careful handling: ingredients coming in, baked cakes packaged and stored in our freezers, and orders picked and packed correctly. As Warehousing Assistant, that’s your territory.

You’ll make sure the right stock is in the right place at the right time, so the bakers can get on with baking and every customer gets exactly what they ordered, in perfect condition.

It’s a physical, practical job with plenty of variety. Some of it is satisfying, like a freezer that’s perfectly organised and an order packed beautifully. Some of it is not so much fun, like heavy lifting and cleaning (we’re keeping it real!). You don’t need any previous warehouse or kitchen experience. We’ll train you in our systems, in manual handling and in food safety.

A kitchen that's good to be in

Our bakehouse is a happy place to work. It’s busy, but the team looks out for each other, keeps morale up and celebrates what we achieve together. There’s music, conversation and lots of encouragement. You’ll be a valued part of that team from your first day, and the bakers will know how much they rely on you.

Flexible hours

We know people have lives outside work, and we're happy to build this role around yours. Hours can be negotiated to an extent to help suit your home life schedule. If you have family or other commitments to work around, talk to us about what would work for you.

What you'll do day to day

Receive and manage ingredients

• Receive incoming ingredient deliveries, check them against the order and put them away correctly.
• Process deliveries so ingredients are ready for the baking team to use.
• Rotate stock so older stock is always used first.
• Tell the shift lead when anything is running low, so we never run out.

Package and store baked goods

• Package bakes using our labelling system, making sure every label is correct and easy to read.
• Make sure every package is meticulously sealed and airtight. This protects the quality of our cakes and the reputation of our brand.
• Move baked and packaged goods into the freezer stores and keep them organised, so anything can be found quickly.

Count and pack orders

• Carry out stock counts and record them accurately, so the whole business knows what we have.
• Pack orders to be sent out, following the order details carefully and checking everything is right before it leaves.

Keep our spaces clean and tidy

• Keep the storage areas, packing areas, freezer stores and shared spaces clean, tidy and safe. This is a big part of the role, and the whole bakehouse depends on it.
• Sweep, hoover and mop floors, and dust shelving, surfaces and equipment.
• Keep walkways, freezer floors and doorways clear.
• Clear away packaging, waste and recycling as you go.
• Tell the shift lead if anything needs an extra deep clean, for example after a spill or accident.

Keeping us safe and compliant

• Follow all health and safety and food safety rules, including Safer Food Better Business, the UK Food Standards Agency’s system for keeping food safe. We’ll train you in it.
• Keep walkways clear and report anything unsafe straight away.

Help in the kitchen

• Wash up and clean the kitchen when the team needs a hand. It’s a smaller part of the job, but everyone here mucks in when necessary.

The Physical Side of the Job

We want you to know exactly what the job involves:

• You’ll regularly lift and carry heavy loads, such as boxes/sacks of ingredients and trays of stock.
• You’ll open and close a heavy freezer door many times a day and spend time working in cold freezer stores.
• You’ll be on your feet for most of the day, and sometimes kneeling or bending to reach lower shelves.

We’ll make it as comfortable and safe as we can:

• Freezer clothing provided: a thick coat and gloves for working in the cold stores.
• Kneeling mats: comfortable mats to protect your knees.
• Trolleys: for moving heavy stock, so you’re not carrying more than you need to.
• Training: safe manual handling techniques from the start. We’d always rather you ask for help with a heavy load than struggle alone.

Who you'll work with

You’ll be part of the bakehouse team and take direction from the Senior Baker or shift lead on each shift. They’ll explain the priorities for the day at the start of your shift (we call this the “stand-up meeting”). You’ll work closely with the bakers and Kitchen Porters, and with the operations team too. Everything we do is connected. Ask questions whenever you’re unsure. We’d always rather you ask than guess.

What we're looking for

• Care and attention to detail, especially with labelling, airtight seals and counting
• Reliability and a methodical, organised approach
• Comfort with physical work, including heavy lifting and working in cold conditions
• Willingness to get stuck in, whatever the job
• A friendly, team-first attitude

Pay: From £24,784.50 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person