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- Tasks: Lead a busy college kitchen, preparing and presenting delicious meals for students.
- Company: Caterlink, a leading education sector catering specialist with over 20 years of experience.
- Benefits: £21 per hour, term-time only, no weekends, plus employee discounts and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact on students' dining experiences.
- Qualifications: Experience in kitchen management and a passion for food safety and customer service.
- Other info: Enjoy a great work/life balance and opportunities for personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 16 - 24 £ per hour.
Company Description
Caterlink is the education sector catering specialist. For over 20 years, the Company has delivered fresh food solutions to pupils and staff at Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and Colleges across the UK. The company caters more than 1,000,000 meals a week. Our “Fresh Food Policy” is the foundation of our success and growth in the market coupled with a desire to truly deliver on the promises we make to our clients and support our site-based teams.
Job Description
We are looking for a Head Chef for a very busy College with fantastic facilities and a major overhaul being undertaken in 2026 with state of the art equipment in the kitchen to reflect the College's ambitions in this fast moving sector. We are looking for a structured, well organised, adaptable, hard-working and approachable leader who will be responsible for the day to day running of the kitchen across multiple brands and concepts. You should be passionate about delivering an efficient service to our students whilst ensuring we maintain great customer service and high food safety standards.
The college is upgrading and overhauling the catering offer, some already has happened in 2025, with new kitchen work spaces, state of the art equipment and new food court style operation along with a branded Cafe, micro shop and hospitality. You will be passionate about ensuring that the company’s reputation for excellent food and service is enhanced with the client and customers. You will be responsible for all aspects of running the kitchen and supporting your manager including food safety, training, recruitment and reaching financial targets.
The Role
- £21 per hour
- 40 hours per week working Monday – Friday – 7:00-15:00
- No weekends or evenings!
- Term-time only – working 38 weeks per year
Your Key Responsibilities Will Include
- To prepare, cook and present food to the standards required by Caterlink and the client
- To ensure that all Food Safety and Health and Safety procedures are followed and all mandatory paperwork is completed accurately and with integrity
- To ensure that the company’s reputation for excellent food and service is enhanced with the client and customers and expectations are consistently exceeded.
- To support your line manager with the day-to-day running of the location including managing inventories, monitoring budgets, and implementing action plans
- Prepare meals mostly from standardised recipes in a timely manner and presentation is key
Great opportunity to grow within our fast paced college sector. Caterlink strives to always provide a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all our teams where every individual is treated with respect, integrity and has the opportunity to grow and be treated equally and with fairness at all times. Caterlink is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be obtained for this role.
Additional Information
There Are Many Advantages To Working For Us Including
- With Caterlink you have the opportunity to a blended learning programme that can include formal qualifications including Apprenticeships, classroom training, eLearning and on the job training to support and encourage your development and enable you to be the best you can be.
- Everyone who joins us is provided with an induction where they learn more about us and enable them to be the best they can be.
- We invest in development opportunities and are always looking to recruit, train and retain the best people for our own future talent and your own future development.
- Working for Caterlink ensures you are able to enjoy a great work/life balance – this is the beauty of working term-time only and no weekends!
- We offer you access to our Employee Discount Platform where you can make great savings at supermarkets, cinema, restaurants as well as holiday discounts, family days out and many more!
- Our Employee Assistance Program and Virtual GP benefits are there for you and your family to use free of charge at any time
- You may be eligible to join our Pension scheme
Caterlink - Head Chef employer: Cater Link Limited
Contact Detail:
Cater Link Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Caterlink - Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, dive into Caterlink's mission and values. Understanding their Fresh Food Policy and commitment to quality will help you align your answers with what they care about.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for food! When discussing your experience, highlight specific dishes or projects that showcase your culinary skills and creativity. Caterlink wants someone who’s excited about delivering great food to students!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to talk about teamwork! As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so share examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen staff, trained new recruits, or improved service efficiency in past roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions! Prepare some thoughtful questions about the college's catering vision or the new kitchen facilities. This shows you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their exciting changes.
We think you need these skills to ace Caterlink - Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When you're writing your application, let your love for cooking and food shine through! Talk about your experiences in the kitchen and how you’ve created amazing meals that not only taste great but also look fantastic. We want to see that you’re excited about delivering top-notch food to students.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Share examples of how you've managed a kitchen or trained staff in the past. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and motivate their team while keeping everything running smoothly.
Be Detail-Oriented: Food safety and health standards are super important to us at Caterlink. In your application, mention how you ensure compliance with these standards in your previous roles. We want to know that you pay attention to detail and take pride in maintaining a safe and clean kitchen environment.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to tailor your application specifically for this role at Caterlink. Use keywords from the job description and show how your skills and experiences align with what we’re looking for. And remember, applying through our website is the best way to get your application noticed!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cater Link Limited
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your culinary knowledge, especially around food safety and health regulations. Caterlink places a strong emphasis on these areas, so being able to discuss them confidently will show that you’re serious about maintaining high standards in the kitchen.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so be prepared to talk about your leadership approach. Share examples of how you've successfully managed a kitchen before, focusing on how you motivate your team and ensure efficient service. This will demonstrate that you can handle the busy environment at the college.
✨Passion for Fresh Food
Caterlink prides itself on its 'Fresh Food Policy', so express your passion for fresh ingredients and innovative cooking. Discuss any experiences you have with sourcing local produce or creating seasonal menus, as this aligns perfectly with their mission and values.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street, so come armed with questions about the college's catering vision and future plans. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it’s the right fit for you. Ask about the new kitchen equipment and how it will enhance the service you provide.
