At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead meal prep and service, ensuring high-quality food for students and staff.
- Company: Join Sodexo, a supportive team dedicated to creating brighter futures through food.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, no unsociable hours, public holidays off, and full training provided.
- Other info: Opportunities for career progression and mental health support available.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a vibrant kitchen while enjoying work-life balance.
- Qualifications: Experience in large-scale cooking and staff supervision required.
The predicted salary is between 12 - 13 £ per hour.
Location: Oasis Academy MediaCity UK, King William Street, Salford, Greater Manchester M50 3UQ
Salary: £12.88 per hour
Hours: 27.5 hours
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday 8am to 1:30pm
Are you ready to take the lead in a kitchen where food fuels not just bodies but bright futures? As an Assistant Cook for Sodexo, you’ll play a key role in the school kitchen, supporting the preparation and service of high-quality meals for students and staff. Working alongside the catering team, you’ll help maintain excellent food standards, ensure kitchen cleanliness and food safety compliance, and contribute to a positive dining experience. You’ll also support stock control, food presentation, and daily kitchen operations in a busy environment. Best of all? No unsociable hours and public holidays off — including Christmas!
What You’ll Do:
- Oversee meal preparation, presentation, and replenishment to deliver high-quality food and excellent customer service for students, staff, and visitors
- Lead, train, and motivate kitchen staff while maintaining professional standards and a positive team culture
- Manage catering operations, including labour, food, stock, and budget controls to meet client and commercial expectations
- Drive meal uptake through innovative food presentation, Discovery Tables, classroom tastings, and seasonal marketing campaigns
- Ensure all meals meet allergen, dietary, food hygiene, health & safety, and fire safety standards, maintaining audit-ready compliance and Green Safeguard standards
- Maintain Food for Life records and standards to support successful annual audits
- Organise special functions and events, including occasional out-of-hours support
- Conduct regular operational and food safety audits and complete all required administration and reporting accurately and on time
- Build strong relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders while supporting training and company initiatives
What You Bring:
- Essential: Experience cooking on a large scale (100–1300 students)
- Experience following recipes in a professional kitchen
- Prior staff supervision or line management experience
- Strong knowledge of fresh food preparation, recipes, allergens, and food safety regulations
- Understanding of health and safety regulations and the ability to enforce them
- Ability to work under pressure in a busy kitchen environment
- Positive leadership, professionalism, and a passion for food
- Hold basic food handling certifications, including: NVQ Level 2, Level 2 Food Safety Certificate
- At least one year of hands-on cooking experience (Training in Food Hygiene and Health & Safety provided)
What We Offer:
- A dynamic and supportive work environment
- Competitive salary and benefits
- Full training and protective uniform provided
- No unsociable hours and public holidays off—including Christmas!
- Unlimited access to mental health and wellbeing support
- Employee Assistance Programme for legal, financial, and personal support
- Discounts, cashback schemes, and financial benefits
- Career progression, learning opportunities, and apprenticeships
- Cycle to Work Scheme and volunteering opportunities
At Sodexo, we believe everyone deserves a place to belong. This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to be part of something bigger. If you’re ready to lead with passion and cook with purpose, we want to hear from you! Apply today and help us create a brighter future!
Note: Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding children. All roles require pre-employment screening, including DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and past employer checks.
Assistant Cook in Salford employer: Sodexo Group
At Sodexo, we pride ourselves on creating a dynamic and supportive work environment where our employees can thrive. As an Assistant Cook at Oasis Academy MediaCity UK, you will enjoy a competitive salary, no unsociable hours, and public holidays off, including Christmas. With unlimited access to mental health support, career progression opportunities, and a commitment to fostering a positive team culture, you will be part of a mission-driven organisation that values your contributions and helps shape brighter futures for students and staff alike.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Cook in Salford
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the kitchen culture! Before your interview, check out the school’s dining experience. Visit if you can, or chat with current staff to understand what they value most. This will help you connect during your interview and show that you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your cooking skills! If you get the chance, bring a dish that showcases your culinary flair. It doesn’t have to be fancy; just something that reflects your passion for food and aligns with the school’s ethos. Trust us, it’ll make you memorable!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to talk teamwork! As an Assistant Cook, you’ll be part of a busy kitchen team. Prepare examples of how you’ve led or motivated others in past roles. Highlighting your leadership skills will show you’re the right fit for maintaining that positive team culture.
✨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 initiative to engage directly with us. So, hit that apply button and let’s get cooking!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Cook in Salford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Cooking:When you're writing your application, let your love for food and cooking shine through! Share any experiences that highlight your passion and how it drives you to create amazing meals for students and staff.
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to detail your experience in large-scale cooking and any supervisory roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Assistant Cook position, so be specific!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. This helps us quickly understand your qualifications and 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 the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sodexo Group
✨Know Your Ingredients
Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of the Assistant Cook role. Understand the importance of food safety, allergen management, and high-quality meal preparation. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show your passion for cooking and commitment to maintaining standards.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since the role involves leading and training kitchen staff, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully managed a team in the past. Highlight any experiences where you motivated others or improved team dynamics, as this will demonstrate your ability to foster a positive kitchen culture.
✨Bring Your Creativity to the Table
Think about innovative ways you've presented food or engaged students in the dining experience. Discuss any creative ideas you have for meal presentation or marketing campaigns that could drive meal uptake. This will show that you’re not just about cooking but also about enhancing the overall dining experience.
✨Prepare for Practical Questions
Expect questions that assess your practical cooking skills and knowledge of health and safety regulations. Brush up on your understanding of food hygiene practices and be ready to explain how you would handle specific kitchen scenarios. This will help you stand out as a candidate who is both knowledgeable and capable under pressure.
