Chef Apprenticeship

Overview

As an apprentice Chef at Toby Carvery, you will learn our menu and contribute to delivering quality dining experiences. You will thrive in a fast-paced kitchen with a supportive team, while developing the skills to become a vital member of the kitchen staff. This role includes a full-time kitchen placement under the supervision of passionate chefs and leads to a Level 2 Production Chef Apprenticeship.

Responsibilities

• Be a champion of brand standards
• Keep your kitchen clean
• Prepare everything needed before a busy shift
• Cook to specification and follow recipes
• Prepare and cook pre-portioned fresh and frozen meat, fish, and poultry to business standards
• Prepare and cook fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables to business standards
• Prepare salad vegetables to business standards
• Cook a range of dishes (poached, simmered, steamed, boiled, braised, stewed, baked, grilled, fried)
• Regenerate dried and frozen ingredients and dishes
• Undertake stock control, storage, and rotation
• Communicate professionally with colleagues, line managers, stakeholders, and customers
• Work as part of a team to support service delivery
• Follow specifications to produce, portion, and present food
• Manage time to complete allocated tasks
• Use feedback to improve performance
• Prepare and close down an area for service
• Use problem-solving techniques to resolve routine and non-routine issues within scope of the role
• Maintain prep and par levels according to business need
• Clean and maintain tools, equipment, and technology
• Follow standard operating procedures for safe knife and board use
• Monitor and record food temperatures and manage allergens during preparation, cooking, holding, and serving
• Apply hygiene management techniques to maintain a safe, clean work environment (COSHH, personal hygiene, uniform)
• Reduce waste, manage portion control, and maximise yield
• Comply with health and safety legislation and organisation policies, including stress management
• Deliver to key performance indicators to support production, performance, and budget within own area
• Work with manual and electrical food-preparation tools, equipment, machinery, and technology

Apprenticeship details

• Production Chef Apprenticeship Level 2, including Functional Skills in Maths and English
• 15-month programme
• 30 hours paid work per week
• Mixture of face-to-face and remote catch-ups every 4–6 weeks
• On- and off-the-job training, including workshops and webinars
• Reviews every 12 weeks with the Apprentice, Line Manager and Lifetime Trainer
• Feedback sessions to discuss progress

Benefits

• 33% discount across all brands for staff meals
• Charity involvement and volunteering opportunities
• Pension, 28 days paid holiday, high-street discounts, and potential share options
• Funded qualification up to degree level

Wage information varies by age: 16–20 year olds: £10 per hour; 21+ year olds: £12.21 per hour.