At a Glance
- Tasks: Serve customers, prepare food, and maintain a welcoming café environment.
- Company: Join the RSPB Saltholme team dedicated to nature conservation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, pension scheme, and 26 days' annual leave (pro-rata).
- Other info: Flexible hours with opportunities for additional shifts and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a difference while gaining valuable experience in hospitality.
- Qualifications: No experience needed; just bring a positive attitude and willingness to learn.
Location: RSPB Saltholme, TS2
Hours: Part-Time, 4 Hours per week (Saturdays)
Contract: Seasonal
Salary: £13.45 - £14.36 Per Hour
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave (Pro-Rata)
Are you passionate about providing excellent customer service and creating a welcoming experience for visitors? Would you like to work for an organisation dedicated to protecting and restoring our natural world? We’re looking for a Seasonal Cafe Centre Assistant to join our friendly team at RSPB Saltholme.
Whether you already have experience in hospitality or you’re looking to develop your skills in a busy visitor environment, we’d love to hear from you.
About RSPB Saltholme:
RSPB Saltholme is a welcoming, family-friendly wetland nature reserve, offering accessible trails, a visitor centre, café, play area, wildlife hides and viewing areas. The reserve provides an opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors. Throughout the year, Saltholme supports a wide variety of wildlife, including wetland birds, seasonal flowers and a range of important habitats. Our café plays an important part in the visitor experience, providing a friendly place for people to relax, enjoy refreshments and make the most of their visit.
About the role:
As a Seasonal Café Centre Assistant, you’ll help provide a friendly and welcoming experience for our visitors while supporting the day-to-day running of the café. Your duties will include:
- Serving customers and providing friendly, helpful service.
- Preparing and serving food and refreshments.
- Handling food safely and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
- Operating the till and processing customer payments.
- Supporting general café and kitchen duties.
- Keeping the café and surrounding areas clean, safe and welcoming.
- Working closely with colleagues to ensure the café runs smoothly, particularly during busy periods.
Every day can be different, and you’ll need to be comfortable working flexibly as part of a team. Full support and training will be provided.
Working pattern:
- We are recruiting for a Café Centre Assistant working 4 hours per week, on Saturdays.
- The role involves daytime working, including weekends and Bank Holidays.
- There may also be opportunities to work additional hours to provide cover for annual leave and sickness, so some flexibility would be beneficial.
We’re looking for someone able to:
- Work reliably and flexibly across a range of café and visitor-facing tasks.
- Provide friendly, helpful and inclusive customer service, responding appropriately to different visitor needs.
- Organise tasks and respond appropriately to changing priorities during busy periods.
- Communicate clearly and work effectively with colleagues, supporting the team when needed.
- Follow food hygiene, cleanliness and safe working procedures, with training provided where required.
- Process customer payments accurately and follow till and cash-handling procedures, with training provided where required.
- Use basic digital systems and learn the systems and procedures required for the role.
Previous café or hospitality experience would be helpful, but a positive attitude, willingness to learn and commitment to providing great customer service are just as important.
We’re keen to appoint as soon as suitable candidates are identified, so please don’t delay in applying.
Closing date: 23:59, Thursday 15th October 2026
N.B. We reserve the right to close the vacancy once sufficient applications have been received.
If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.
We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
In order to apply you will be required to upload a CV and complete a short application form. We recommend explaining to what extent you meet the set criteria above in the cover letter section of the application form.
Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
Cafe Assistant in Middlesbrough employer: RSPB
As a leading employer in the conservation sector, RSPB offers a dynamic work environment in the stunning location of Aviemore, where employees are encouraged to collaborate on impactful landscape restoration projects. With a strong commitment to employee development and a culture that values teamwork and innovation, RSPB provides unique opportunities for growth while making a meaningful difference in the natural world.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cafe Assistant in Middlesbrough
✨Get Involved in Local Events
Check out foodie festivals, farmers' markets, and local fairs in your area. These are perfect opportunities to meet restaurant owners and managers face-to-face, and they often look for part-time help during busy seasons.
✨Join Hospitality Groups
Connect with local hospitality groups on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram. These communities frequently post about part-time job openings that aren’t advertised elsewhere, plus it’s a great way to engage with the food scene in your area!
✨Show Up in Person
For part-time roles in the hospitality sector, don't underestimate the power of a walk-in. Grab your best smile and pop into local cafés or restaurants with your CV in hand. It shows initiative and can really make you stand out!
✨Apply Through Our Website!
Don’t forget to check out the openings at RSPB and apply directly through our website! We love seeing friendly faces and you’ll be surprised how many part-time roles pop up that may not be listed on job boards.
We think you need these skills to ace Cafe Assistant in Middlesbrough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Service Skills:In the hospitality and food service industry, showcasing your customer service experience is key. Be sure to highlight relevant roles in your CV or cover letter where you’ve directly engaged with customers—this could be from previous waitressing, barista jobs, or any roles that involved teamwork and communication. You want to convince us at RSPB that you can keep it cool under pressure!
Certifications Matter:If you’ve got any hospitality-related certifications—like food safety or first aid—definitely mention those! Including these credentials can set you apart from other applicants. It shows us that you're serious about the health and safety standards we maintain here at RSPB.
Flexibility is Your Friend:Since this is a part-time role, we’re looking for someone who can work various shifts. In your application, it’s useful to outline your availability clearly. Make it easy for us to see when you can jump in and help out—this shows that you’re committed and ready to adapt!
Let Your Personality Shine:In hospitality, personality plays a vital role. Use your cover letter to share why you’re passionate about food service and what brings you joy in helping customers. A personal touch can make your application memorable and help us at RSPB get a sense of who you are beyond your experience!
How to prepare for a job interview at RSPB
✨Show Off Your People Skills
In hospitality, your ability to work with customers and team members is crucial. Be prepared to share stories that highlight your experience in handling customer service situations, especially any tricky ones. We want to hear how you turned a potentially negative experience into a positive one!
✨Know the Menu Inside Out
You might get quizzed on the menu items or asked about your favourite dishes. Brush up on any special offerings at RSPB and demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for their food. This shows you’re not just looking for any job, but you’re genuinely excited about working with their team.
✨Flexibility is Key
As you're going for a part-time role, emphasise your availability and willingness to work various shifts. Mention any instances where you've gone above and beyond for scheduling or helped out during busy times. This flexibility can make you stand out from the crowd!
✨Role-Play Scenarios
Be ready for role-play scenarios during your interview! Employers love to see how you handle on-the-spot situations, like dealing with a dissatisfied customer or managing a specific request from a patron. Practising these scenarios with friends can help boost your confidence.
