Café & Bar Assistant - Manchester Workspace

Salary: £27,976

Diversity: We’re an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment, where everyone can thrive and be their authentic selves at work. We recognise that the climate crisis intersects with social and inclusion issues, and we’re particularly eager to receive applications from individuals who bring diverse perspectives, including people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, parents, carers, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We also value different experiences and encourage applicants whose backgrounds may not exactly match the criteria in the job description to apply.

About The Role: Our co‑working space is a vibrant, full‑service workspace and the second in our growing ecosystem. Located just a 10 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly, it builds on the success of our London headquarters, creating a thriving hub where purpose‑driven startups can work, network, and access investment and support to scale their impact. Spanning multiple floors, the workspace includes a cafe/bar, a mix of hot desking and fixed desks, private offices, and a range of meeting rooms. It also features two versatile event spaces, hosting groups from 30 to 150 people, making it a dynamic environment. This is a pivotal role in driving the continued growth and success of our climate tech ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage daily café & bar operations, including the preparation and service of food (sandwiches, salads, soup, cake, pastries) and drinks (coffee, alcohol during evening shifts);
• Handle till transactions, maintain optimal stock levels, and ensure the café & bar area is consistently clean and welcoming;
• Coordinate with external caterers for events, overseeing food delivery, setting up catering and in‑house drinks, and assisting with service and cleanup;
• Create and manage the team rota for cafe service and event coverage;
• Maintain adequate stock of refreshments in the members' areas;
• Deliver a consistently high standard of friendly and efficient front‑of‑house service to all guests and members, promptly addressing any questions or concerns professionally;
• Maintain an exceptional standard of workspace presentation;
• Build meaningful relationships with members to encourage engagement and collaboration;
• Promote community and partner events through internal channels;
• Adhere strictly to all health and safety guidelines and food hygiene standards;
• Ensure all areas meet required cleanliness and compliance requirements;
• Work collaboratively with the entire Workspaces team to ensure smooth, efficient operations and a positive, exceptional guest experience.

Qualifications & Experience:

• A keen interest in sustainability;
• 2+ years’ experience in a similar role;
• A commitment to delivering exceptional customer experience;
• Core hospitality/venue operational experience;
• Empathetic, calm and supportive approach – be a safe pair of hands;
• Problem‑solving capability;
• Barista and/or café service experience is also a requirement; training can be provided in our London workspace if needed.

Benefits:

• Hours: Full‑time, 40 hours per week, Monday‑Friday (early morning starts and evening work expected);
• Remuneration: £27,976 per annum;
• Based: Central Manchester;
• 25 days Holiday + Bank Hols;
• Monthly Wellness Day for rest & recharge;
• Paid Sick Leave + Vitality Health Insurance Scheme;
• Enhanced Pension Scheme;
• Cycle to Work Scheme + Octopus EV Lease Scheme;
• As you grow with us, you can access additional benefits, including enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave & pay (after 2 years’ service).