Sous Chef in Bury

Sous Chef – RAF Honington
Location: RAF Honington
Pay: £17.65 per hour
⏰ Hours: 37 hours per week
Working Pattern: 5 days over 7
Shift Patterns

• Early: 05:00 – 13:00
• Late: 10:30 – 18:30

Meal Service Times

• Breakfast: 06:00 – 08:30
• Lunch: 11:30 – 13:00
• Evening Meal: 16:30 – 18:00

Serving up to 150 Service Personnel daily.

We are recruiting a skilled and motivated Sous Chef to join our catering team at RAF Honington. This is an excellent opportunity to play a key leadership role within a busy Defence catering environment, supporting the delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals for service personnel.

Working within a team of 12, you will support the Head Chef in the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen while maintaining exceptional culinary and service standards.
Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head Chef with daily kitchen operations
• Prepare, cook, and serve high-quality meals across all services
• Supervise and support kitchen staff to maintain consistency and standards
• Ensure excellent food hygiene, safety, and cleanliness practices
• Assist with menu planning, stock control, and ordering
• Deliver efficient service across all shift patterns

About You

• Previous experience essential in a similar role (Sous Chef or Senior Chef de Partie)
• Culinary qualifications desirable (City & Guilds / NVQ or equivalent)
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Passion for great food and quality service
• Flexible and reliable, able to work early and late shifts

We ensure you\’re rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury\’s, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/0502/95352001/52441308/SU #Defence

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive – because diversity is our strength!