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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic kitchen team and create delicious dishes for exciting events.
- Company: Join the UK's largest horse racing group at Chepstow Racecourse.
- Benefits: Enjoy annual venue passes, discounted food, and a growing holiday allowance.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team and make a real impact in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years as a Head Chef with strong leadership and kitchen management skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are looking for a passionate and knowledgeable Head Chef to join our team at Chepstow Racecourse.
About us… Arena Racing Company does so much more than lead the UK’s largest horse racing group. We have 21 racing venues showcasing horse racing, greyhound racing, golf courses, hotels and events. In short, leisure, entertainment, media production and global distribution are at the heart of what we do, making it an exciting and diverse place to work! Our success is a team effort which is why we offer great opportunities for growth, development and career progression. After all, it’s our employees that enable us to offer first class service and create an electric atmosphere, all within an industry we love.
What is ARC?
- We care for our visitors
- We think about our impact
- We are proud of our sport
Work Perks of being a Head Chef:
- Annual passes to attend any of our 21 venues
- Discounted food & ARC days out
- Cycle to work scheme
- Holiday allowance increasing with length of service up to 28 days
- Company life assurance scheme
- Discretionary group annual bonus schemes to reward your hard work
- Support with study through our study assistance schemes
- And so much more…
About the role:
As a Head Chef you will organise and supervise all kitchen operations across the sites, maintaining high food quality and complying with hygiene regulations. Controlling costs in general and maintaining good staff relations as well as maintaining all legal and company health, safety & HACCP standards. You will be responsible for managing Chefs, Trainees, and Kitchen Porters, both full time, casual & agency. The remit will encompass all food preparation across all areas for both racedays and non racedays. Alongside a variable working week pattern to meet the needs of the business. Managing racedays both on site, or remotely, EVH functions & events.
Responsibilities:
- Liaise closely with the Head of Catering and Events & Group Head Chef regarding revenue budgets and cost targets.
- Ensure targets are met and provide explanations for deviancies.
- To purchase within agreed parameters, ensuring the budgeted food GP is achieved & nominated spend targets met.
- To oversee and maintain the Indicater catering platform, ensuring it is utilised fully, monitoring hub spends, finance reporting, stock takes, menu planning & allergens.
- To implement and adhere to the Company Food Safety Management System across all areas within remit.
- To ensure all menu planning and specs set by head office are correctly replicated across all areas within remit.
- Coordinate stock takes as required.
- Develops and implements strategies for procuring, storing, and distributing goods or services and maintaining stock levels.
- To collect and view the weeks function sheets for racing and non-racing and to plan the kitchen’s time and resources.
- Ordering of the food, chemical and disposable stock for multi outlets.
- Preparing and Cooking of foods during both non-race day and race day events.
- Supervising the cleaning down of the kitchens, by chefs & porters.
- Instructing both full time and casual chefs in the correct Health & Safety and food safety procedures.
- Pre-sale package opportunities across business and standardizing offerings.
- Kitchen build consultations, catering improvements across group, assessing capex needs.
- Improvements to group restaurants, creating brands/flagships & how to increase repeat booking.
- Ensure all EHO food safety and production requirements are met and maintained to current standards.
- To collate all HACCP documentation from all sites within remit and to ensure correctly followed, documented & stored.
- To ensure temperature controls are monitored, recorded & checked.
- Ensure quality control at all times throughout production process from raw material to ready plated end product.
- Control portion size and waste factors at all times, directly influencing GP.
- To ensure a safe working environment at all times.
- Observe, maintain and drive all Health & Safety and Hygiene policies.
- To meet clients when required to assist in menu planning alongside the Catering and Events Manager.
- Maintain good communication between Kitchen and other departments.
- In liaison with the Catering and Events Manager to arrange training for staff as appropriate.
- Coordinating and assisting with technical training and overall competency to management and employees with regards to the operational aspects of the food safety program, pest control, environmental, operational methods and personnel practices, and maintenance for food safety and hygiene /cleaning practices.
- To liaise with Local Authority Inspectors and enforcement officials as required.
- Manage the Kitchen staff rota across all sites in remit & deliver promptly to the staffing managers.
- Ensuring set cost targets are met.
- Allocate daily workload appropriately to staff, maintaining effectiveness and operational control.
- Including record absence/sickness of all direct reports.
- Complete regular job and performance reviews with your team in line with company guidelines.
- Future nutrition law changes & allergen changes, getting the company ready for change.
- Ensuring all areas of business has correct allergen information displayed and updated as needed.
- Jockeys nutritional audits and working alongside the BHA to ensure conformance.
The person we are looking for as a Head Chef has:
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Head Chef in high quality multi-site operations environment.
- Good understanding of purchasing systems, technical packages & I.T.
- Ability to work under pressure with strong leadership to lead the kitchen team in a professional manner.
- Must have a demonstrated understanding and achievements in managing and improving cost of goods.
- Demonstrate a strong background in planning & control of variable Labour to budget.
- Experience in training & team development.
- Full & clean UK driving licence.
- Passionate about the kitchen environment and about our product.
- Works well under pressure.
- Organised, systematic and process driven.
We are on a thrilling journey. So, to join us at our next destination, be part of a winning team and to learn more about our company and this exciting opportunity apply today.
At ARC, we believe that a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace makes us a more relevant, more competitive, and more resilient company. We welcome people from all backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences. We are an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a disability that requires reasonable adjustments, please let us know; we will ensure that individuals with additional needs are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process and to perform essential job functions. We understand the value that diversity brings to our business and we are striving to create a working environment that is inclusive, psychologically and physically safe and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions. We are committed to making a consistent, top-down effort to be role models on what diversity, inclusion and belonging means in society.
St Lawrence Road Chepstow Monmouthshire NP16 6BE
Head Chef in Chepstow employer: Arena Racing Corporation Limited
Contact Detail:
Arena Racing Corporation Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef in Chepstow
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join culinary groups, or even hit up social media platforms to find opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a Head Chef position!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, create a portfolio showcasing your best dishes and kitchen management experiences. Bring it along to interviews or share it online. It’s a great way to demonstrate your passion and expertise in the culinary world.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview like it’s a big race day! Research the company, understand their values, and think about how you can contribute to their success. Be ready to discuss your experience managing kitchens and teams, as well as how you handle pressure.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at ARC. So, get that application in and let’s make some culinary magic happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef in Chepstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for cooking and the culinary arts shine through. We want to see your enthusiasm for food and how it connects to our exciting environment at Chepstow Racecourse.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure to customise your CV to highlight relevant experience that matches the Head Chef role. Focus on your leadership skills, kitchen management experience, and any achievements in cost control or menu planning that align with what we’re looking for.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to describe your experiences and skills, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this fantastic opportunity to join our team at ARC.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arena Racing Corporation Limited
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
As a Head Chef, you'll need to demonstrate your culinary expertise. Familiarise yourself with the menu and be ready to discuss your favourite dishes, cooking techniques, and how you would adapt them for different events. This shows your passion and knowledge about food, which is crucial for the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
You'll be managing a diverse team, so it's essential to highlight your leadership style. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen team in the past, handled conflicts, or trained new staff. This will reassure them that you can maintain a positive working environment while ensuring high standards.
✨Understand Cost Control
Cost management is key in this role. Be prepared to discuss your experience with budgeting, purchasing systems, and how you've previously managed food costs. Bring specific examples of how you've improved profit margins without compromising quality, as this will demonstrate your business acumen.
✨Emphasise Your Adaptability
The job requires flexibility, especially during race days and events. Share experiences where you've successfully adapted to changing circumstances or high-pressure situations. This will show that you're not only organised but also capable of thinking on your feet when it matters most.