At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a professional kitchen while mentoring students in culinary skills.
- Company: Specialist training hotel and college focused on empowering young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, extensive training, discounts, and enhanced leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by teaching and inspiring the next generation of chefs.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef and a passion for teaching.
- Other info: Supportive environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 37752 - 38730 £ per year.
Location: Minehead, Somerset
Salary: £37,752 - £38,730 per year
Job type: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: 40 hours per week (52 weeks)
We are looking for an experienced, hands-on Head Chef to lead a professional kitchen within a specialist training hotel and college for young people with learning disabilities. This is a unique opportunity to combine high-quality hospitality standards with meaningful teaching and mentoring. You will oversee kitchen operations while helping students develop the culinary, life and employability skills they need to become independent and work ready.
Responsibilities
- Kitchen Leadership
- Lead daily kitchen operations to a consistently high standard
- Maintain excellent food presentation, hygiene and safety
- Ensure compliance with allergen management and health & safety regulations
- Manage stock control, ordering, storage and waste reduction
- Ensure the kitchen is always audit-ready and legally compliant
- Promote professionalism, teamwork and a positive working culture
- Teaching & Student Support
- Deliver practical cooking sessions and learning activities
- Provide feedback to support individual student progress
- Work closely with tutors and Learning Support Practitioners
- Use recognised frameworks (e.g., RARPA) to track learner development
- Create a supportive and safe environment for students to gain confidence
- Collaboration & Quality Assurance
- Work with hotel management and senior leaders to integrate learning with real hotel operations
- Support quality assurance in both hospitality and education
- Contribute to curriculum planning and staff development
- Complete risk assessments, activity planning and safeguarding reviews
What We're Looking For:
- Essential:
- Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Chef
- City & Guilds 706/1 & 2 or NVQ equivalent
- Strong kitchen leadership and team management skills
- Experience delivering structured training or teaching sessions (or willingness to learn)
- Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to complete)
- Relevant catering qualification (e.g., NVQ Level 3)
- Level 2 English and Maths (or willingness to work towards)
- Desirable:
- Experience supporting young people or adults with additional needs
- Understanding of safeguarding practices
Benefits
- Extensive training & development opportunities
- Discounts on shopping, groceries, phone plans, eating out, gyms & more
- Cycle to Work and Car Scheme
- Enhanced annual leave
- Company sick pay
- Enhanced pension
- Life assurance
- 24/7 GP access for you and your household
- UK Health Cash Plan (includes children, with partner upgrade option)
- Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 counselling
- £1,000 Refer a Friend bonus (Terms apply)
Head Chef - Specialist Training Hotel & College in Minehead employer: Positive Futures Recruitment Ltd
Contact Detail:
Positive Futures Recruitment Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Specialist Training Hotel & College in Minehead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the hospitality industry, especially those who have experience in training environments. They might know about opportunities that aren't advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! If you can, create a portfolio showcasing your culinary creations and any teaching experiences. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their kitchen.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to kitchen leadership and teaching. Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to mentor students while maintaining high standards.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Specialist Training Hotel & College in Minehead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Teaching: When writing your application, let us see your enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring. Share any experiences you've had in guiding others, especially in a kitchen setting, to show how you can inspire our students.
Highlight Your Kitchen Leadership Skills: Make sure to emphasise your leadership experience in the kitchen. We want to know how you've managed teams, maintained high standards, and created a positive working culture. Use specific examples to back up your claims!
Tailor Your Application to Us: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to our unique environment at the specialist training hotel and college. Show us why you're the perfect fit for this role and how you align with our values.
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 about the process. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Positive Futures Recruitment Ltd
✨Know Your Culinary Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your culinary skills and knowledge. Be ready to discuss your experience in leading a kitchen, managing food safety, and maintaining high standards. They’ll want to see that you can not only cook but also teach others how to do it.
✨Showcase Your Teaching Skills
Since this role involves mentoring students, be prepared to share examples of how you've taught or trained others in the past. Think about specific instances where you’ve helped someone improve their skills or confidence in the kitchen.
✨Understand Their Mission
Familiarise yourself with the unique environment of a training hotel and college for young people with learning disabilities. Show that you understand the importance of creating a supportive atmosphere and how you can contribute to their mission of helping students become independent.
✨Prepare Questions
Have some thoughtful questions ready to ask at the end of the interview. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the organisation. You might ask about their approach to student support or how they integrate learning with real hotel operations.