At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to create delicious meals for students and events at a prestigious school.
- Company: Harrow School is a renowned independent boarding school located in northwest London.
- Benefits: Enjoy free lunch, parking, sports facilities, and a pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of a vibrant community while honing your culinary skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in mass catering or high-end kitchens, plus relevant food hygiene certifications required.
- Other info: Early applications are encouraged; commitment to diversity and child safeguarding is essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
An independent boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18.
The environment: Harrow School is situated within a beautiful site in Harrow on the Hill, northwest London, and is one of the best-known schools in the world. Around 830 boys study at Harrow and live in the Schools 12 boarding houses. The Schools Catering Department produces over 3,000 meals per day during term time and over 25,000 packed meals per year. The School also caters for sports teas, open days, parents meetings, departmental dinners, working lunches, and provides high-end hospitality for events such as wedding receptions and conferences.
The role: Harrow School is seeking a Chef de Partie to join our friendly team, producing innovative, cost-effective and healthy food to serve in the central dining hall and other venues throughout the School. This varied role focuses on food production and service delivery, working with quality ingredients to deliver the highest standard of food. There will also be an opportunity to develop experience of general kitchen management practices, ordering and stock-control procedures, menu planning and costing, managing food safety and wastage reporting.
The skills: You should have demonstrable kitchen experience in a mass-catering operation or high-end hospitality kitchen. An NVQ Level 1 or 2 (or equivalent), City and Guilds 706/1 & 2 (or equivalent), current food hygiene certification recognised in the UK hospitality industry and full UK driving licence are essential. You will pride yourself on your initiative, flair, flexibility and organisation skills in a fast-paced environment, and will be able to confidently communicate to teachers, clients, colleagues and pupils.
The benefits include:
- free lunch
- free parking
- automatic enrolment in the Schools pension scheme
- use of the Schools sports facilities such as the swimming pool, gym, and running track
- subsidised membership of the tennis, golf, angling and social clubs.
Applications will be processed as they are received and interviews may take place before the closing date, so early application is recommended. Equality, diversity and inclusion are values that are important to us at Harrow. We believe in diversity of thought and actively welcome everyone regardless of their background to bring their valuable and relevant skills to our community. The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All successful applicants must be willing to undergo enhanced child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with any past employer and the Disclosure and Barring Service, and it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. No member of staff will be able to start until these checks are complete and this process takes, on average, a month. Please plan accordingly.
Chef de Partie employer: Confidential
Contact Detail:
Confidential Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef de Partie
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Harrow School's catering style and ethos. Understanding their commitment to high-quality, innovative meals will help you align your culinary approach with their expectations during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any experience you have in mass catering or high-end hospitality kitchens. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've managed food production and service delivery in a fast-paced environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your organisational skills by discussing how you handle stock control and menu planning. Being able to demonstrate your ability to manage these aspects effectively will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to communicate your passion for food and teamwork. Since you'll be working closely with colleagues and students, emphasising your communication skills and ability to work collaboratively will be crucial.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef de Partie
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant kitchen experience, especially in mass-catering or high-end hospitality. Include any qualifications like NVQ Level 1 or 2 and food hygiene certifications to stand out.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for cooking and your ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Mention specific skills such as menu planning, stock control, and food safety management that align with the job description.
Showcase Your Initiative: In your application, provide examples of how you've demonstrated initiative and creativity in previous roles. This could include innovative dishes you've created or improvements you've made in kitchen operations.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since the role involves interacting with teachers, clients, and pupils, emphasise your communication skills in your application. Share experiences where you effectively communicated in a team or with customers to enhance service delivery.
How to prepare for a job interview at Confidential
✨Showcase Your Culinary Skills
Be prepared to discuss your previous kitchen experience in detail. Highlight specific dishes you've created, especially in mass-catering or high-end hospitality settings, as this will demonstrate your ability to handle the demands of a busy school kitchen.
✨Understand the School's Values
Familiarise yourself with Harrow School's commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Be ready to share how you can contribute to these values in your role, as cultural fit is crucial for them.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisation Skills
Since the role involves menu planning and stock control, prepare examples of how you've successfully managed these tasks in the past. Discuss any systems or processes you’ve implemented to improve efficiency in the kitchen.
✨Communicate Effectively
As you'll be interacting with teachers, clients, colleagues, and pupils, practice articulating your thoughts clearly. Show that you can communicate well under pressure, which is essential in a fast-paced environment like a school kitchen.