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- Tasks: Lead innovative catering and venue services across multiple campuses, enhancing student experiences.
- Company: Join the Bedford College Group, the largest education provider in the South East Midlands.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, full-time hours, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape memorable experiences for students and guests while promoting sustainability and inclusivity.
- Qualifications: Significant leadership experience in catering or hospitality; Level 5 qualification preferred.
- Other info: This role requires an enhanced DBS check and commitment to safeguarding students.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 60000 £ per year.
Location: Bedford (with travel to other campuses)
Salary: to £59,999 per annum, DOE | Full-time, 37 hours per week
Are you a strategic and innovative leader with a passion for hospitality and a flair for service excellence? Do you thrive on delivering outstanding experiences for students, staff, and guests alike? If so, we want to hear from you.
We are recruiting a Group Head of Campus Catering & Venue Services to lead our catering, hospitality, and events operations across all Bedford College Group locations. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and modernise the student and guest experience through creative food services, venue hire, and events across multiple sites, including our flagship venues - The Grand Hall and Trinity Arts & Leisure Centre.
What You'll Be Doing
- Leading a fresh, inclusive and student-focused catering offer that meets dietary, health and sustainability standards.
- Overseeing all campus hospitality and venue services, including weddings, corporate events, and community bookings.
- Managing key relationships with external vendors, suppliers, and environmental services.
- Driving performance, innovation and efficiency across a multi-site team of catering and venue managers.
- Collaborating with senior leadership to support Group-wide strategies, events, and operational planning.
What We're Looking For
- Significant leadership experience in catering, hospitality, or venue management, preferably in a multi-site environment.
- A Level 5 qualification in Catering, Hospitality or equivalent experience.
- Strong commercial acumen, budget management, and people leadership skills.
- Proven ability to manage change and drive continuous improvement.
- A customer-first mindset and a commitment to excellence in service delivery.
Desirable Extras
- Personal licence holder
- Level 4 Food Safety qualification
- Experience working within education or similar complex organisations
What We Value
- Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:
- Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who, by working together, can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
- Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
- Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
- Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
- Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
- Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.
About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students each year. Today, the Group includes a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College (in Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough), Shuttleworth College (land-based specialist), The Bedford Sixth Form, The Corby Sixth Form, and the National College for Motorsport. We also operate community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering.
Safeguarding Our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references as part of our safer recruitment process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Further information, including our policy on the employment of ex-offenders, can be found within the vacancy documents. Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded that it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.
Apply Now. Be part of something special. Help us deliver exceptional services that enrich the college experience and reflect our values. Interviews will take place on 24th of June 2025.
Group Head of Catering employer: Bedford College Group
Contact Detail:
Bedford College Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Group Head of Catering
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the Bedford College Group's values and mission. During your interactions, whether in interviews or networking, demonstrate how your leadership style and experience align with their commitment to teamwork, inclusivity, and student-centred service.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your strategic thinking by preparing examples of how you've successfully led catering or hospitality initiatives in multi-site environments. Be ready to discuss specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them to drive performance and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of the Bedford College Group. Engaging with them can provide valuable insights into the organisational culture and expectations, which you can leverage during your application process.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your approach to sustainability and dietary considerations in catering. Given the emphasis on health and sustainability in the job description, having a clear vision on how to implement these aspects will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Group Head of Catering
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant leadership experience in catering, hospitality, or venue management. Emphasise any multi-site management roles and specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive performance and innovation.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for hospitality and service excellence. Discuss how your values align with those of the Bedford College Group, particularly focusing on teamwork, continuous improvement, and student-centred approaches.
Showcase Relevant Qualifications: Clearly list your qualifications, such as your Level 5 qualification in Catering or Hospitality. If you have additional certifications like a personal licence or Level 4 Food Safety qualification, make sure to mention these as they are desirable extras.
Demonstrate Change Management Skills: Provide examples in your application of how you've successfully managed change and driven continuous improvement in previous roles. This will show your capability to lead a fresh and inclusive catering offer that meets various standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Bedford College Group
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous leadership roles in catering or hospitality. Highlight specific examples where you successfully managed teams, drove performance, and implemented innovative solutions.
✨Demonstrate a Customer-First Mindset
Emphasise your commitment to delivering exceptional service. Share anecdotes that illustrate how you've prioritised customer satisfaction and created memorable experiences for guests and students.
✨Align with Organisational Values
Familiarise yourself with the Bedford College Group's VISION values. During the interview, reflect on how your personal values align with theirs, particularly in teamwork, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage change. Prepare scenarios where you successfully navigated challenges in a multi-site environment, focusing on your strategic thinking and adaptability.
