At a Glance
- Tasks: Welcome customers and serve delicious drinks and snacks in a vibrant café environment.
- Company: Join Freedom Leisure, a leading charitable leisure trust focused on community well-being.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, flexible hours, and career growth opportunities while making a difference.
- Other info: Flexible 20-hour work week with training provided to help you thrive.
- Why this job: Be part of a positive team that creates welcoming spaces and improves lives through leisure.
- Qualifications: Passion for customer service; experience in hospitality is a plus but not required.
The predicted salary is between 10727 - 12732 £ per year.
Join the Energy at Freedom Leisure – Do Good Feel Good. At Freedom Leisure, we're all about positive vibes, great people, and making a real impact. Yes, we run leisure and cultural facilities, gyms, and swimming pools—but at the heart of it all, it's our people who make the difference. As one of the UK's leading charitable leisure trusts, we're proud of our mission: Improving Lives Through Leisure. We're here to help communities live healthier, happier lives by making our centres welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to everyone—because everyone deserves to feel good.
We're all about delivering amazing customer service with a smile—every single day. We create spaces where people feel at home, supported, and inspired. If you're passionate about helping others and love creating great experiences, you'll feel right at home with us. You don't need to be an expert to get started—we'll give you all the training and support you need. With over 130 centres across England and Wales, there's loads of room to grow. Many of our team have built amazing careers doing what they love, helping customers day-to-day and making people feel good - one smile at a time.
We're proud to be a workplace where everyone is welcome, valued, and supported to thrive—because when our team reflects the communities we serve, we all grow stronger together. This is your place, this is where you matter.
About the Role
We are looking for an enthusiastic, approachable and customer-focused Reception Café Assistant to join our front-of-house team. In this dual role, you'll be the first point of contact for our customers – providing a warm welcome at Reception and delivering excellent service in our Café. If you enjoy working with people and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we'd love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
- Customer Service Reception
- Welcome all visitors with a smile in a friendly and professional manner.
- Handle enquiries, bookings and memberships face-to-face, online and by phone.
- Accurately operate booking, till and membership systems.
- Provide up-to-date information on centre facilities, classes and promotions.
- Maintain a tidy, inviting reception area and ensure high standards of presentation.
- Café Retail Service
- Prepare and serve hot and cold drinks, including barista-style coffee.
- Offer a range of light snacks and pre-packaged food items.
- Always ensure compliance with food hygiene and health safety standards.
- Replenish café stock and vending machines as required.
- Keep café spaces clean, well-organised and customer friendly.
- Teamwork Operational Support
- Work as part of a collaborative, multi-skilled team.
- Support the delivery of events and activities within the centre.
- Follow Freedom Leisure's policies on safeguarding, health safety and customer care.
- Participate in relevant training and ongoing professional development.
Please note: If a high volume of suitable applications is received, we may close this vacancy earlier than advertised. Early applications are encouraged.
Hours: 20 hours per week, Monday - Sunday (Rota basis)
Requirements
We're looking for someone who is:
- Passionate about delivering outstanding customer service.
- Comfortable using till systems and handling cash/card payments.
- Barista experience is desirable but training can be provided.
- Able to multitask and remain calm in a busy environment.
- A proactive, flexible and reliable team player.
Desirable Skills Experience:
- Previous experience in a customer-facing role in leisure, fitness or community service settings.
- Hospitality or Retail experience delivering customer excellence.
Benefits
We want you to love coming to work, feeling healthy, happy and valued. That's why we've developed a benefits package with you in mind, so what can we offer you?
- My Staff Shop, our very own staff benefit scheme, gives employees access to a great range of benefits.
- Get discounts on cinema tickets, travel bookings, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities and your day to day spending.
- Discounted Staff membership (including family members).
- Incremental holidays.
- Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential, independent and professional counselling.
- Company pension.
- Various insurance and saving schemes.
- Financial advice.
- Cycle-to-work and Car Leasing tax-efficient schemes (salaried staff only, depending on earnings).
- All this as well as fully funded training and career progression opportunities in a team working environment supporting your local community to improve lives through leisure.
Closing Date: 13th March ****
Salary: up to £12,732 per annum
Freedom Leisure is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Reception & Café Assistant - Part Time - Witham Leisure Centre employer: Freedom Leisure
At Freedom Leisure, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture where every team member is valued and supported. As a part-time Reception & Café Assistant at Witham Leisure Centre, you'll enjoy a range of benefits including discounted memberships, access to our My Staff Shop for exclusive discounts, and opportunities for professional development in a community-focused environment. Join us in making a positive impact while enjoying a fulfilling career that prioritises your well-being and growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Reception & Café Assistant - Part Time - Witham Leisure Centre
✨Get Involved in Local Events
Check out foodie festivals, farmers' markets, and local fairs in your area. These are perfect opportunities to meet restaurant owners and managers face-to-face, and they often look for part-time help during busy seasons.
✨Join Hospitality Groups
Connect with local hospitality groups on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. These communities frequently post about part-time job openings that aren’t advertised elsewhere, plus it’s a great way to engage with the food scene in your area!
✨Show Up in Person
For part-time roles in the hospitality sector, don't underestimate the power of a walk-in. Grab your best smile and pop into local cafés or restaurants with your CV in hand. It shows initiative and can really make you stand out!
✨Apply Through Our Website!
Don’t forget to check out the openings at Freedom Leisure and apply directly through our website! We love seeing friendly faces and you’ll be surprised how many part-time roles pop up that may not be listed on job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Reception & Café Assistant - Part Time - Witham Leisure Centre
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Service Skills:In the hospitality and food service industry, showcasing your customer service experience is key. Be sure to highlight relevant roles in your CV or cover letter where you’ve directly engaged with customers—this could be from previous waitressing, barista jobs, or any roles that involved teamwork and communication. You want to convince us at Freedom Leisure that you can keep it cool under pressure!
Certifications Matter:If you’ve got any hospitality-related certifications—like food safety or first aid—definitely mention those! Including these credentials can set you apart from other applicants. It shows us that you're serious about the health and safety standards we maintain here at Freedom Leisure.
Flexibility is Your Friend:Since this is a part-time role, we’re looking for someone who can work various shifts. In your application, it’s useful to outline your availability clearly. Make it easy for us to see when you can jump in and help out—this shows that you’re committed and ready to adapt!
Let Your Personality Shine:In hospitality, personality plays a vital role. Use your cover letter to share why you’re passionate about food service and what brings you joy in helping customers. A personal touch can make your application memorable and help us at Freedom Leisure get a sense of who you are beyond your experience!
How to prepare for a job interview at Freedom Leisure
✨Show Off Your People Skills
In hospitality, your ability to work with customers and team members is crucial. Be prepared to share stories that highlight your experience in handling customer service situations, especially any tricky ones. We want to hear how you turned a potentially negative experience into a positive one!
✨Know the Menu Inside Out
You might get quizzed on the menu items or asked about your favourite dishes. Brush up on any special offerings at Freedom Leisure and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for their food. This shows you’re not just looking for any job, but you’re genuinely excited about working with their team.
✨Flexibility is Key
As you're going for a part-time role, emphasise your availability and willingness to work various shifts. Mention any instances where you've gone above and beyond for scheduling or helped out during busy times. This flexibility can make you stand out from the crowd!
✨Role-Play Scenarios
Be ready for role-play scenarios during your interview! Employers love to see how you handle on-the-spot situations, like dealing with a dissatisfied customer or managing a specific request from a patron. Practising these scenarios with friends can help boost your confidence.
