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- Tasks: Prepare and serve delicious meals that support patient recovery and wellbeing.
- Company: Join Serco, a top international employer with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, generous leave, training opportunities, and health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with clear career progression and community support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives through quality food service.
- Qualifications: Experience in catering, knowledge of food hygiene, and strong teamwork skills.
The predicted salary is between 26700 - 26700 £ per year.
Location: University Hospital Southampton, SO16 6YD
Salary: £12.92 per hour plus excellent benefits
Schedule: Fulltime 37.5 hours per week working shifts between 6am and 7pm; shifts will include weekends.
Ready to impact a better future? As a Chef in our Retail Catering Services team at University Hospital Southampton, you’ll play a vital role in preparing and serving food that supports patient recovery, colleague wellbeing and visitor experience. Your work will directly contribute to a safe, welcoming and nourishing environment across the hospital. This is a hands-on, purposeful role where quality, care and consistency matter. From preparing daily menu items to supporting special dietary requirements and themed food events, you’ll help create a positive impact for everyone who relies on our catering service. Our work touches lives every day — and yours will too.
What you’ll do as a Chef
- Prepare, produce, present and serve daily menu items for patients, colleagues and visitors
- Maintain high standards of food hygiene, health and safety, and cleanliness across all food preparation and service areas
- Support the supervision of servery operations and service delivery
- Assist with stock control, monitoring wastage and ensuring economical use of ingredients
- Prepare therapeutic and special diets in line with nutritional and dietary requirements
- Contribute ideas for new menu lines, themed days and service improvements
Does this sound like you? You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:
- Proven experience working in a busy catering or food production environment
- A good working knowledge of food hygiene regulations and HACCP principles
- The ability to work confidently with kitchen equipment, recipes and standard procedures
- Strong teamwork and communication skills, with a customer‑focused approach
- A flexible, reliable attitude and pride in delivering quality service
What we offer
- Salary: Competitive salaries with annual reviews
- Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
- Holidays: 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
- Training and development: We offer a wide range of learning opportunities with over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
- Wellbeing: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, BUPA Anytime Healthline, wellbeing app, simply health cash plans to claim back money towards healthcare costs, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres
- Discounts: Save across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
- Employee networks: Dedicated networks where colleagues can come together to find support, share challenges, discuss ideas, network and be part of a community
- Charity: Support a charity or organisation with a paid volunteering day each year. You can also choose to donate to your favourite charity tax-free, through our Payroll Giving Scheme
Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.
Chef employer: Serco
Contact Detail:
Serco Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the kitchen! If you can, visit the hospital's catering area before your interview. Familiarising yourself with the environment shows initiative and helps you feel more comfortable when discussing your experience.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary creativity! Be ready to share ideas for new menu items or themed days during your interview. This not only highlights your passion but also demonstrates your understanding of the role's impact on patient and visitor experiences.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on food hygiene regulations! Knowing your stuff about HACCP principles will impress the interviewers. It shows you're serious about maintaining high standards in food safety and quality.
✨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 take the time to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food: When writing your application, let us see your love for cooking and food preparation shine through. Share any experiences that highlight your creativity in the kitchen or your commitment to quality service.
Highlight Relevant Experience: Make sure to mention any previous roles you've had in catering or food production. We want to know how your background aligns with the responsibilities of a Chef at University Hospital Southampton.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your skills and experiences, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our team.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Serco
✨Know Your Menu
Familiarise yourself with the types of dishes you might be preparing and serving. Research common dietary requirements and how to cater to them, as well as any themed events that may be relevant. This shows your passion for the role and your commitment to providing quality service.
✨Showcase Your Hygiene Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss food hygiene regulations and HACCP principles during the interview. You might even be asked about specific scenarios, so brush up on your knowledge and think of examples from your past experience where you maintained high standards of cleanliness and safety.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Since teamwork is crucial in a busy kitchen environment, come ready to share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and how you contribute to a positive team atmosphere, especially under pressure.
✨Bring Ideas to the Table
Think about potential new menu items or improvements you could suggest for the catering service. Showing initiative and creativity can set you apart from other candidates. Be ready to discuss your ideas and how they could enhance the patient and visitor experience.