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- Tasks: Join us as a Chef to prepare and serve delicious meals for our guests at Freshwater Country House.
- Company: HF Holidays is a B Corp Certified brand with over 110 years of experience in organizing walking holidays.
- Benefits: Enjoy live-in accommodation, free meals, tips, discounts, and health support.
- Why this job: Be part of a fun, outdoor-loving community while honing your culinary skills in a beautiful setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in a busy kitchen and NVQ 3 in professional cooking preferred; flexibility is key.
- Other info: We promote equity and diversity, ensuring a fair application process for all candidates.
The predicted salary is between 26000 - 28000 £ per year.
CHEF / COOK Location: Freshwater Bay House, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight, PO40 9RB Contract : Full Time,Seasonal Salary: £12.57 – £13.34 per hour Reporting to: Head Chef and Country House Manager Live in: Live in accommodation available inclusive of all bills, 3 meals per day, Laundry & Free wifi Employee Benefits: Equal share of tips paid monthly | Free Uniform | 28 Days Holiday pro rata inclusive of bank holidays | Pension Contributions | Volunteer Day | Group Life Assurance | Cinema Discounts | Online Shopping Discounts | Cycle to work Scheme | Discounted Gym Membership | Virtual GP | Health & Wellbeing Support 24/7 Helplines with access to trained counsellors for support on Mental Health, Relationships, Work, Stress, Bereavement, Finances, Childcare and much more | Exclusive discounts on our holidays for you, your friends and family | Annual familiarization visit at any of our country houses for you and your family What will you be doing: Working in our Freshwater Country House we provide a retreat for up to 77 guests who stay with us for guided or self-guided walking tour holidays. We always know when and where our guests need serving. We know the number of guests we will be hosting each week, and our mealtimes are fixed. We plan our menus in advance and get pre orders for lunch and dinner. Your role as Chef will be to support the Head Chef and Sous Chef to prepare and serve our Traditional British menu consisting of Breakfast, packed lunches and a 3-course evening meal served banqueting style. About you: We would love to hear from you if you have these essential skills: Experience of working in a busy kitchen Awareness of Health & Safety At Work Act 1974, The Food Safety Act 1990(including Allergen Legislation), The Food and Hygiene Regulations and The Fire Regulations Maintaining the standard and style of cooking set by the Head Chef. NVQ 3 in professional cooking – or willing to work towards one Ability to be part of a team and flexible to work evenings (9pm finish) and weekends. About HF Holidays: HF Holidays are a B Corp Certified British heritage brand with over 110 years of experience organising walking holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond. We’ve been leading the way since 1913 and offer over 260 carefully curated guided and self-guided walking tours on six continents and in 40 destinations worldwide. Run as a co-operative, we put people at the heart of everything we do and are proud to be part of a community with a shared passion for the great outdoors. Friendship, fun, fresh air, and the feelgood factor have always been our guiding principles. Our 500-strong team are based remotely, at our Head Office in Hertfordshire and across our 15 country houses located in some of the UK’s best-loved national parks and National Landscapes. Our Application Process: To ensure a fair and unbiased evaluation process, we welcome candidates to submit their CVs without including personal identifying information, such as name, gender, age, race, religion, or any other factors that may reveal their identity. This practice aligns with our commitment to fostering equal opportunities for all applicants. If successful, you will be invited to an online / face-to-face interview with our House Manager. If you wish to apply, please forward your CV to recruitment@hfholidays.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you! Equity and Diversity: We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. HF Holiday’s has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of discrimination; We are an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against candidates based on any of the protected characteristics set out under the Equalities Act 2010 or any other characteristic protected by law. HF Holidays also provides reasonable adjustments to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. We are a member of the Business Disability Forum, a Disability Confident Employer and we operate the Guaranteed Interview Scheme to those candidates who meet our essential criteria. If you need to enquire about a reasonable adjustment, need assistance with completing the application process or wish to be interviewed under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, please email recruitment@hfholidays.co.uk or call us on (0) 7918 652114 where a member of our Resourcing Team will be happy to help you.
Chef / Cook employer: HF Holidays
Contact Detail:
HF Holidays Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef / Cook
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with Traditional British cuisine, as this is the focus of the menu at Freshwater Bay House. Understanding the dishes and their preparation will help you stand out during the interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight your experience in busy kitchen environments. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've managed high-pressure situations and maintained quality service.
✨Tip Number 3
Demonstrate your knowledge of health and safety regulations relevant to the kitchen. Being able to discuss these laws confidently will show that you take food safety seriously.
✨Tip Number 4
Emphasize your teamwork skills and flexibility. Since the role requires working evenings and weekends, showcasing your ability to adapt and collaborate with others will be crucial.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef / Cook
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure to customize your CV to highlight your experience in busy kitchens and your knowledge of health and safety regulations. Emphasize any relevant qualifications, such as NVQ 3 in professional cooking.
Showcase Your Skills: In your application, clearly outline your ability to work as part of a team and your flexibility to work evenings and weekends. Mention any specific experiences that demonstrate these skills.
Follow Application Guidelines: Remember to submit your CV without personal identifying information as per the company's application process. This helps ensure a fair evaluation.
Express Your Passion: In your cover letter or application, convey your enthusiasm for working in a hospitality environment and your passion for providing excellent service to guests. Highlight any previous experiences that align with HF Holidays' values.
How to prepare for a job interview at HF Holidays
✨Show Your Passion for Cooking
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for cooking and the culinary arts during the interview. Share any personal experiences or stories that highlight your love for food and how it drives you in your work.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork Skills
Since the role requires being part of a team, be prepared to discuss your previous experiences working in a busy kitchen environment. Highlight examples where you collaborated effectively with others to achieve common goals.
✨Knowledge of Health & Safety Regulations
Familiarize yourself with the Health & Safety at Work Act and Food Safety regulations. Be ready to discuss how you have implemented these practices in your previous roles to ensure a safe working environment.
✨Prepare for Menu Planning Questions
Since the position involves planning menus in advance, think about how you would approach this task. Be prepared to discuss your experience with menu creation and how you can contribute to maintaining the standard set by the Head Chef.
