At a Glance
- Tasks: Support schools by training chefs, covering absences, and ensuring high food quality.
- Company: Join one of England's fastest-growing school food providers, Impact Food Group.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, paid mileage, and a great work-life balance with no evenings or weekends.
- Other info: Access ongoing training, career progression, and monthly team incentives.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while building a rewarding career in catering.
- Qualifications: Previous Chef Manager experience and a passion for food and customer service.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 € per year.
Impact Food Group (IFG) is one of England's fastest-growing school food providers, serving around one million students every day across more than 1,500 schools. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and enjoyment. Our brands include Innovate, Cucina, Chapter One (Independent Schools), Hutchison, and Dolce, reflecting our breadth of experience and reach across the school catering sector.
We're recruiting for a Central Support Chef to join our fantastic team, supporting a portfolio of schools. This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll assist with training and developing onsite chefs, provide cover across sites, and play a key role in new site mobilisations.
Please note: As this is a mobile, area-based role, you must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to your own vehicle.
The role covers Leatherhead & surrounding areas, working Monday to Friday for 45 hours per week over 42 weeks per year, with a pay of £35,000 per annum, plus mileage expenses.
Benefits include free meals on shift, uniform, pension, and other great company benefits.
Due to continued growth, we have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Chef Manager to step into a broader, multi-site role. You'll work closely with the Operations Manager, supporting a group of schools by:
- Covering chef manager absences across sites
- Supporting with the training and development of onsite catering teams
- Assisting with the mobilisation of new contracts
- Maintaining high standards of food quality, service, and compliance
- Providing hands-on kitchen support when required
We're looking for someone with:
- Previous Chef Manager experience (ideally within secondary education)
- A genuine passion for food and customer service
- Strong craft skills and the ability to lead by example
- Excellent organisation, flexibility, and resilience
- The ability to prioritise and adapt across multiple sites
This role offers a fantastic work-life balance - no evenings, no weekends, no late nights, and all school holidays off. You'll also benefit from:
- Free meals on shift and provided uniform
- Paid mileage for travel between sites
- Access to a company pension scheme
- Ongoing training, development, and career progression opportunities
- Free qualifications to support your growth
- A staff discount scheme across 850+ retailers
- Monthly team incentives, including the chance to win shopping vouchers
We'll give you the opportunity to build a career you can be proud of, within a supportive and growing business.
If this sounds like the perfect role for you, we'd love to hear from you! Please note: An interview and kitchen visit will be required as part of the recruitment process. IFG are committed to the safeguarding of children, and our employees share this commitment. Successful candidates are required to undergo an enhanced DBS disclosure and children's barred list check, which IFG will pay for. We are a committed equal opportunities employer - if you require any assistance for the interview process, please detail within your application. All information is kept confidential and in compliance with GDPR requirements.
Area Support Chef in Surrey employer: Impact Food Group
Impact Food Group (IFG) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work environment that prioritises work-life balance with no evenings or weekends required. Employees enjoy free meals on shift, ongoing training and development opportunities, and a chance to progress their careers within a rapidly growing company dedicated to enhancing student wellbeing through nutritious food. With a strong commitment to employee welfare and a vibrant team culture, IFG stands out as a rewarding place to work in the school catering sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Area Support Chef in Surrey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow chefs, school catering staff, or anyone in the food industry. You never know who might have a lead on a role or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you get the chance, offer to do a trial shift or a demo at an interview. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate your culinary prowess and how you can fit into their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Be flexible and adaptable. Since this role involves covering multiple sites, highlight your ability to jump in wherever needed. Share examples of how you've successfully managed different kitchens or teams in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're serious about joining our fantastic team at Impact Food Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Area Support Chef in Surrey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for food and customer service shine through. Share any experiences that highlight your culinary skills and how you’ve made a positive impact in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure to customise your CV to reflect the specific requirements of the Area Support Chef role. Highlight your previous Chef Manager experience and any relevant training or development you've undertaken.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and bullet points where necessary to make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit for the job.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the recruitment process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Impact Food Group
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements of the Area Support Chef role. Understand the importance of high-quality, nutritious meals in schools and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with this mission.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully trained and developed kitchen teams in the past. Highlight your ability to lead by example and maintain high standards, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Be Ready for a Kitchen Visit
Since a kitchen visit is part of the interview process, think about how you can demonstrate your craft skills on the spot. Brush up on your cooking techniques and be prepared to showcase your passion for food.
✨Flexibility is Key
Emphasise your adaptability and organisation skills during the interview. Be ready to discuss how you manage multiple sites and prioritise tasks effectively, as this is crucial for the mobile nature of the role.
