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- Tasks: Lead a team to create delicious, nutritious meals for adventurous kids.
- Company: Join PGL, a leader in outdoor education and transformative experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, 25 days leave, and discounts at over 800 retailers.
- Why this job: Fuel the next generation's adventures while enjoying work-life balance.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef/Head Chef and strong food hygiene knowledge required.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with growth opportunities and a focus on wellbeing.
The predicted salary is between 29000 - 38000 £ per year.
Use your catering skills to fuel adventure
PGL creates extraordinary breakthroughs for children through active and life-affirming experiences in the great outdoors. But that’s not all… we’re part of something bigger. We’re powered by PGL Beyond, a group of inspiring companies with a shared purpose to deliver enriching and transformative experiences to the younger generation.
By joining PGL, you’ll play a key role in delivering on our mission to make outdoor education more impactful, sustainable, and inclusive for future generations. Excited? So are we!
A Head Chef position like no other…
What could be more important than fuelling the next generation for adventure? Our catering team are proud to serve tasty & nutritious meals, combining reassuring favourites and new cuisines to keep the adventure going. Our centralised team provides all the recipes, enabling you and your team to focus on executing our proven menus; delivering delicious as well as safe food by ensuring all health and safety, allergen safety & food safety standards are followed.
You will work limited late nights, with a Friday or Saturday evening off most weeks (especially outside of our peak season) and no working over Christmas – this could be the perfect role to progress your career in catering without sacrificing that all important social and family time!
As Head Chef, you’ll be reporting to the Catering Manager, and responsible for managing a team of Chefs & Catering Assistants; organising rotas, setting clear objectives and identifying any training needs. You will also ensure your team is following procedures to maintain exemplary levels of food hygiene, and confidently managing complex dietary requirements. Alongside managing financial aspects of the catering operation, production planning, waste and stock management.
Is this you?
- Experience as a Sous Chef/Head Chef in a mid-to-large scale dining environment
- Has experience and understanding of food mass production
- A confident leader of people with strong organisational and decision-making skills
- Excellent knowledge of food hygiene & handling complex dietary requirements including allergies and intolerances
- You will hold your City & Guilds 7061/2 (or equivalent) and Level 3 or above in Food Safety and Allergen Management
Above all, it’s our core values of FUN, SAFETY, QUALITY, INCLUSIVITY, TEAMWORK and RESPECT that unite us.
A place to thrive
No matter your background, ethnicity, age, neurodivergence or anything else … PGL is a place to be yourself, have fun, use your valuable skills for good and celebrate what makes you brilliantly unique.
Fair pay and benefits for all
- On top of your 25 days annual leave (+ 8 bank holidays), you’ll also enjoy your birthday off, have paid volunteering days to help worthwhile causes and the option to purchase additional holiday.
- A career with ongoing growth, aided development, mentoring, multiple pathways and opportunities to work across different UK or French locations.
- 24/7 access to our Wellbeing Hub alongside our Employee Assistance Program Sector leading family friendly policies and a contributory pension
- Access to our financial wellbeing platform where you can borrow or save directly from your salary.
- Free/discounted PGL breaks for your family & discounts at 800+ retailers.
We hire the best talent and value a diverse, inclusive team; so, we are dedicated to ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone and are happy to provide helpful adjustments to make it easier to complete. Simply email or call us with detail around the adjustments you need. However, our top priority is the safety of the guests on our centres. Therefore, all centre based employees and some specific Head Office employees must undergo an Enhanced criminal record check (known as DBS or PVG), which we pay for. You will need to provide a 5-year address history and ID (such as passport/birth certificate). Convictions related to violence, drugs, or safeguarding may affect your application. Not all convictions will disqualify you, as we assess each case individually.
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Head Chef employer: PGL
Contact Detail:
PGL Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture! Before your interview, dive into PGL's mission and values. Show us how your passion for outdoor education and teamwork aligns with our core values of FUN, SAFETY, QUALITY, INCLUSIVITY, TEAMWORK, and RESPECT.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your cooking skills! We want to see your culinary expertise in action. Prepare a signature dish that showcases your creativity and ability to handle complex dietary requirements. Bring that dish to the interview if you can!
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current or former PGL staff on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for your interview. It’s a great way to get insider knowledge and show us you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team. Don’t forget to follow up after applying; a little nudge can go a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let us see your love for cooking and how it fuels your desire to create amazing meals. Share any experiences that highlight your culinary journey and how you can bring that passion to our team.
Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience. Talk about how you've managed teams in the past, set objectives, and supported your colleagues in their development.
Be Clear About Your Qualifications: Don’t forget to mention your relevant qualifications, like your City & Guilds or Level 3 in Food Safety. We want to know you’re equipped to handle food hygiene and dietary requirements, so be specific!
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 our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at PGL
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you’re familiar with the types of meals PGL serves. Understand their focus on nutritious and tasty food, and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to this mission with your own ideas and experiences.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll be managing a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led a kitchen before, including how you handle training, setting objectives, and maintaining high standards of food hygiene. Be ready to demonstrate your decision-making skills.
✨Emphasise Food Safety Knowledge
Make sure to highlight your qualifications in food safety and allergen management. Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you’ve managed complex dietary requirements or ensured compliance with health and safety standards in your previous roles.
✨Align with PGL's Values
Familiarise yourself with PGL’s core values: FUN, SAFETY, QUALITY, INCLUSIVITY, TEAMWORK, and RESPECT. Think of examples from your past work that reflect these values and be ready to share them during the interview to show you’re a great cultural fit.
