Catering Assistant in Colchester

Fixed Term, Full Time £25,081 per annum (full time equivalent)

Location: Mersea

Closing Date: 15th February 2026

Essex Outdoors will be looking for enthusiastic and motivated people to join our catering teams at Mersea between April and September 2026. Aged 16 years or over, while experience isn't essential, you’ll need to have plenty of energy and initiative and be great at working as part of a team as well as on your own. Based at one of our very busy outdoor activity centres, you will assist Chefs and Cooks in providing three great choice and quality meals a day for up to 250 residential visitors. You will be part of a friendly, customer-focused group of people in a vibrant fast-paced environment. Full in-house training is provided, and there may also be the opportunity to complete nationally recognised qualifications.

About the role:

• Responsible for basic food preparation
• Washing up, using a fully automated machine and cleaning some larger cooking items by hand
• To ensure that cleanliness is maintained within the facilities and are adequately stocked
• To maintain a high standard of personal and general cleanliness and hygiene to comply with statutory regulations
• To use powered cleaning and catering equipment in accordance with the relevant safety requirements
• During the season there may be some early starts and late finishes, as well as the requirement to work weekends or bank holidays.

In return we provide a competitive salary, full in-house training for all staff, as well as an Essex Outdoors t-shirt to wear with your own presentable attire and appropriate footwear.

Work for Essex Outdoors?

• Generous Local Government Salary related pension scheme
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group

About our Centre

Mersea – A large centre in a wonderful coastal setting with views across the Blackwater Estuary. Mersea offers a vast selection of both land and water-based activities. Due to the rural location of our Mersea centre, public transport is limited. Please ensure you are happy and able to travel to the centre in your own transport on a daily basis.

Work alongside the Catering Lead to ensure the Catering Department delivers its objectives, ensuring best value for money and accurate in-year spend. Contribute to the planning of work schedules and ensure staff are allocated according to business need. Contribute to managing all staff working in the Catering Department, to ensure that FTE, Seasonal and Capita/Agency staff all have a deep understanding of their roles to increase efficiency and continuity of great service. Responsible for ensuring hygiene practices and regulations are stringently implemented in the kitchen and areas where food is handled/served whilst maintaining appropriate health and safety standards for all catering and serving areas to ensure the wellbeing of customers. Contribute to the management of on-site vending and the creation of menu plans for the centre, making appropriate provision for special dietary requirements and budget limitations. Contribute to the ordering of food and other supplies, stock control and controlling waste at a required level, whilst ensuring the correct, safe and economical use of equipment and fuel. Complying with procurement and financial processes. Engage with appropriate stakeholders to define requirements and achieve quality, timely and value for money services. Prepare, cook and, where necessary, serve meals and beverages to a standard and quality expected by Essex Outdoors and its customers. Carry out associated cleaning duties if required. Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

Experience You Will Bring

• Possesses a 706/1 qualification or equivalent plus experience of working within a large volume catering environment.
• Current First Aid and Food Hygiene certificates.
• Ability to develop skills and knowledge within role.
• Ability to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene for all resources to comply with statutory regulations.
• Experience of preparation, cooking and service of food and beverages to the required standard and volume with the ability to create and follow agreed menus and recipes.
• Ability to use kitchen and cleaning equipment and train others in the correct use of this equipment.
• Ability to manage and support the work of others and show good organisational skill.
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written with experience of delivering excellent customer service.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and that of a team.

How to apply?

If you would like to apply for this position you will need an up-to-date CV and a personal statement explaining your interest in the role including the following information.

• Availability - What is your earliest start date after 1st April 2026?
• Commitments - Please provide the dates of any commitments that mean you are not available to work between April and September 2026, for example booked holiday, university, exams etc.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.