At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead our kitchen and teach engaging cooking classes while managing operations.
- Company: Join Borough Kitchen, the UK's leading premium kitchenware retailer.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, complimentary classes, and access to wellness resources.
- Why this job: Combine your passion for cooking with teaching in a vibrant environment.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in professional kitchens with leadership experience required.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values quality and craftsmanship.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 42000 £ per year.
Hours: Full time, 40 hours per week. Schedule: 5 shifts a week, 2 Saturdays a month (Sundays off) January start.
Borough Kitchen is dedicated to inspiring home cooks by offering premium tools, expert knowledge and creative ideas that elevate both cooking and entertaining. As the UK’s leading premium kitchenware retailer, we operate five London stores, a fast-growing eCommerce platform, and a cook school. We provide an exceptional range of kitchenware, tableware and inspiration.
We are looking for a hands-on Head Chef to lead our kitchen and teaching operations. This role offers the chance to balance creative lesson delivery with operational leadership, while also gaining valuable business operations experience. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with a breadth and depth of experience, looking to move into a more intimate cooking environment with lots of guest engagement. You will divide your time between teaching and cooking, team development, and ensuring the smooth running of our cook school and kitchen environment.
Responsibilities- Teaching and Team Development
- Deliver engaging, cooking-based evening lessons Monday to Saturday.
- Provide guidance, mentoring, and progression planning for chefs and assistants, creating personal progression plans to develop team skills.
- Attend lessons during quieter periods to support training and maintain best standard practice across the school, as well as receiving feedback from the team and implement structural change to improve lesson effectiveness and efficiency.
- Work alongside Head of Cook School, Head of Operations and store managers to ensure smooth running of the cook school, from overseeing food related health and safety, to cook school maintenance issues and inventory management.
- Conduct weekly stocktakes across all sites and work with the store team to ensure each school is adequately stocked.
- Work closely with the Head of Cook School to improve operational efficiency, managing COGS effectively and resolve supplier issues effectively.
- Work alongside the Head of Cook School to design and create new and exciting cookery classes, from recipe testing to resource development.
- Help to continually improve and implement best standard practices, training the team to improve lesson delivery and outcomes.
- Support interdepartmental tasks including capturing marketing content.
- A strong background in professional kitchens (5 years minimum) with previous leadership experience (Junior Sous Chef or above).
- A warm and outgoing demeanour to help nurture a strong environment for open learning for our guests.
- Passionate about teaching, training, and developing others, with a strong focus on the why as well as the how.
- Exemplary knowledge of food safety standards and compliance.
- Organised with excellent time management and communication skills.
- Flexible, proactive, and able to balance cooking, teaching, and operational responsibilities.
- Pastry experience is ideal but not essential.
- Be part of a passionate and knowledgeable team that values quality and craftsmanship.
- Industry-leading discount programme on products for our employees.
- Complimentary Cook School classes.
- Company events.
- Access to an employee assistance programme, which includes free counselling sessions, financial and legal advice, and discounts and cash-back offers across 1,200+ brands, plus a wide range of health and wellbeing resources.
Borough Kitchen is proud to be both an Equal Opportunities Employer and a London Living Wage Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Cook School Head Chef in London employer: Borough Kitchen
Contact Detail:
Borough Kitchen Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cook School Head Chef in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, dive into Borough Kitchen's mission and values. This way, you can show how your passion for cooking and teaching aligns with their vision. Plus, it’ll help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! If you're going to be teaching classes, think about how you’d deliver a lesson. Maybe even run a mock class for friends or family. This will not only boost your confidence but also give you some great talking points during the interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insider tips about the interview process and what it’s really like to work at Borough Kitchen. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re tech-savvy and ready to embrace the eCommerce side of things, which is super important for this role.
We think you need these skills to ace Cook School Head Chef in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Cooking: When you're writing your application, let your love for cooking shine through! Share your experiences and what inspires you in the kitchen. We want to see that spark that makes you excited about teaching others.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Head Chef role at Borough Kitchen. Highlight your leadership experience and how it aligns with our mission of inspiring home cooks. We appreciate when candidates take the time to connect their skills with our values.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experiences and skills. We love a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our team!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our awesome team at Borough Kitchen!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough Kitchen
✨Know Your Culinary Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your culinary skills and knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss your experience in professional kitchens, especially any leadership roles you've held. They’ll want to know how you can inspire and teach others, so think of examples where you've successfully mentored or trained a team.
✨Show Your Passion for Teaching
Since this role involves teaching cooking classes, it’s crucial to convey your passion for sharing knowledge. Prepare to talk about your teaching style and how you engage with students. Maybe even think of a fun cooking lesson you could share during the interview to demonstrate your approach!
✨Be Organised and Proactive
This position requires excellent time management and organisational skills. Come prepared with examples of how you've managed multiple responsibilities in a kitchen environment. Discuss how you handle inventory management and ensure food safety standards are met, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Emphasise Team Development
Highlight your experience in developing team members and creating personal progression plans. They’re looking for someone who can nurture a strong learning environment, so be ready to share specific strategies you've used to help your team grow and improve their skills.