At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to create delicious, nutritious meals for adventurers.
- Company: Join a fun and inclusive catering team dedicated to quality and safety.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, limited late nights, and no Christmas shifts.
- Why this job: Perfect for aspiring chefs wanting to balance career growth with social life.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef/Head Chef and relevant food safety qualifications required.
- Other info: Blue Arrow values diversity and is a Disability Confident Employer.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 38000 £ per year.
Job Role - Head Chef
Rate of pay - £34,096.11
Hours - 45 hours per week
Location - Ashford
About the role:
- Earn £34,096.11 (live off rate) per annum (our pay system is benchmarked, transparent and fair)
- Full Time Permanent Contract
Use your catering skills to fuel adventure. A Head Chef position like no other... What could be more important than fuelling the next generation for adventure? Our catering team are proud to serve tasty & nutritious meals, combining reassuring favourites and new cuisines to keep the adventure going. Our centralised team provides all the recipes, enabling you and your team to focus on executing our proven menus; delivering delicious as well as safe food by ensuring all health and safety, allergen safety & food safety standards are followed.
You will work limited late nights, with a Friday or Saturday evening off most weeks (especially outside of our peak season) and no working over Christmas - this could be the perfect role to progress your career in catering without sacrificing that all important social and family time!
As Head Chef, you'll be reporting to the Catering Manager, and responsible for managing a team of Chefs & Catering Assistants; organising rotas, setting clear objectives and identifying any training needs. You will also ensure your team is following procedures to maintain exemplary levels of food hygiene, and confidently managing complex dietary requirements. Alongside managing financial aspects of the catering operation, production planning, waste and stock management.
Is this you?
- Experience as a Sous Chef/Head Chef in a mid-to-large scale dining environment
- Has experience and understanding of food mass production
- A confident leader of people with strong organisational and decision-making skills
- Excellent knowledge of food hygiene & handling complex dietary requirements including allergies and intolerances
- You will hold your City & Guilds 7061/2 (or equivalent) and Level 3 or above in Food Safety and Allergen Management
Above all, it's our core values of FUN, SAFETY, QUALITY, INCLUSIVITY, TEAMWORK and RESPECT that unite us. Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.
Head Chef - Ashford employer: Blue Arrow Ltd
Contact Detail:
Blue Arrow Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Ashford
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific catering environment and ethos of the company. Understanding their focus on nutritious meals and adventure can help you tailor your approach during interviews, showcasing how your experience aligns with their mission.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your leadership skills by preparing examples of how you've successfully managed a team in a busy kitchen. Be ready to discuss how you set objectives and handled training needs, as this will demonstrate your capability to lead effectively.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of food hygiene and allergen management. Being able to confidently discuss your understanding of these areas during the interview will show that you take safety seriously and are well-prepared for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with food mass production. Since this role involves managing complex dietary requirements and large-scale meal preparation, being able to articulate your past experiences in this area will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Ashford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Sous Chef or Head Chef, particularly in mid-to-large scale dining environments. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific achievements in food mass production.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for catering and how you align with the company's core values of fun, safety, quality, inclusivity, teamwork, and respect. Mention your experience with managing dietary requirements and food hygiene.
Showcase Your Qualifications: Clearly list your qualifications, such as City & Guilds 7061/2 or equivalent, and Level 3 or above in Food Safety and Allergen Management. This will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high standards in food safety.
Highlight Leadership Experience: Discuss your experience in managing teams, organising rotas, and identifying training needs. Provide examples of how you've successfully led a team in a busy kitchen environment to reinforce your suitability for the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Arrow Ltd
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll be managing a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen team in the past. Highlight any experiences where you set clear objectives or identified training needs.
✨Demonstrate Your Knowledge of Food Safety
Since food hygiene and safety are crucial in this role, make sure to brush up on relevant regulations and best practices. Be ready to talk about your qualifications, such as your City & Guilds 7061/2, and how you ensure compliance with food safety standards in your kitchen.
✨Discuss Your Experience with Dietary Requirements
Given the importance of managing complex dietary needs, prepare to discuss your experience with allergies and intolerances. Share specific examples of how you've catered to diverse dietary requirements while maintaining quality and safety.
✨Emphasise Your Passion for Catering
This role is all about fuelling adventure through food. Convey your enthusiasm for creating nutritious and delicious meals. Share your thoughts on how you can contribute to the catering team's mission and align with their core values of fun, safety, and teamwork.