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- Tasks: Support schools by training chefs, covering absences, and ensuring high food quality.
- Company: Join Impact Food Group, a leading school food provider in England.
- Benefits: Enjoy free meals, paid mileage, and a great work-life balance with no evenings or weekends.
- Other info: Flexible role with opportunities for ongoing training and career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while developing your culinary career.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Chef Manager 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:
- Area Covering: Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Central London
- Working Days: Monday to Friday
- Shifts & Working hours: 45 hours per week
- Working Weeks: 42 weeks per year (Term time, inset days and 3 additional weeks)
- Pay Details: £35,000 per annum, & mileage expenses
Benefits include:
- Free meals on shift
- Uniform
- Pension
- 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.
Central Support Chef in Watford employer: Impact Food Group
Contact Detail:
Impact Food Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Central Support Chef in Watford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the food industry, especially those who work in schools or catering. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨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 moment 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 covers multiple sites, highlight your ability to juggle different tasks and environments. Share examples of how you've successfully managed similar challenges in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining our fantastic team at Impact Food Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Central Support Chef in Watford
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 Central 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 avoid jargon, making it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit for our team.
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 from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Impact Food Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your culinary skills and knowledge about school catering. Familiarise yourself with the specific needs of students and how to create nutritious meals that they’ll enjoy. Being able to discuss your previous experience in similar roles will show that you’re the right fit for the Central Support Chef position.
✨Show Your Passion
During the interview, let your enthusiasm for food and customer service shine through. Share stories about how you've positively impacted student wellbeing through your cooking. This role is all about making a difference, so demonstrating your genuine passion can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Since this role involves hands-on kitchen support, be prepared for practical questions or even a mini cooking demonstration. Think about how you would handle various scenarios, like training new chefs or managing a busy kitchen during peak times. Showing that you can think on your feet will impress the interviewers.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
This job requires covering multiple sites and adapting to different teams. Be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully managed similar challenges in the past. Emphasising your organisational skills and ability to prioritise tasks will demonstrate that you can thrive in this mobile role.