Sustainability & Engagement Coordinator in Reading

Company Description

Location: Support Office/Nationwide

Contract Type: 52 weeks permanent

Salary: £35,000 per annum + Car/Car allowance

Why Join us?

• 25 days holiday + 8 days bank holiday
• 3 days grandparent leave for those special family moments
• Bespoke training & development opportunities
• Pension & life insurance
• Discounts on high street brands, cinema & holidays via the Perkbox App
• Wellbeing hub & access to employee assistance programme
• 3 volunteering days to give back to causes you care about
• Career development & HIT Apprenticeships for all experience levels

About the role:

As our Sustainability & Engagement Coordinator you will work closely with the Operations team in delivering sustainability audits and driving meaningful environmental and social initiatives across our schools. This dynamic role will involve engaging with pupils through assemblies and classroom sessions, playing a key part in educating young people about the importance of sustainability and responsible food practices.

You will be joining Holroyd Howe, one of the UK's leading contract caterers, providing fresh, innovative food services solely to independent schools and colleges. We are a team of experienced professionals who tailor our catering service provision specifically to suit children of all ages in order to meet the bespoke requirements of each school.

Our mission is simple: To provide our teams with the right skills to succeed in their jobs, we invest in their training and development. Our exceptional teams of seasoned specialists customise our catering services to fit children of all ages and satisfy the unique needs of our clients.

Please note: This is a field-based role with regular travel expected across our UK locations, predominantly London and the South East. While we will consider applicants from across the UK, candidates must be prepared to travel regularly. Although not mandatory, it would be preferred for candidates to have good access to London/Reading and hold a full UK driving licence. There will also be the option for remote/home working outside of term time.

Job Description

• Support the design and implementation of our sustainability roadmap.
• Deliver engaging sustainability sessions in classrooms and assemblies.
• Support schools in developing eco-conscious catering and operations.
• Educate and engage site teams on sustainability practices and act as a champion of change, ensuring best practices are followed across all sites.
• Collaborate with clients and school leaders to align goals and drive positive environmental impact.
• Coordinate and support the delivery of site-level sustainability audits across multiple school sites.
• Ensure audit compliance in line with client and legal expectations, focusing on energy use, food waste, packaging, and carbon impact.
• Consolidate audit results, identify trends, and develop action plans with site teams.
• Support with data collection and reporting for ESG metrics in line with WSH's ESG strategy, Second Nature.
• Produce clear, compelling reports and case studies to highlight impact and share success stories internally.
• Maintain strong communication with the wider operations team and business to ensure alignment and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, with a strong interest in sustainability, food systems, hospitality, and digital engagement.
• Knowledge of sustainability principles, especially within food systems and catering.
• Excellent communication and training abilities to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Proficiency in sustainability reporting tools and frameworks is advantageous.
• Creative problem-solving skills and ability to innovate eco-friendly solutions.
• Inspirational and engaging – especially with children and young people.
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on, practical mindset.
• Highly organised with strong project management skills.
• Empathetic, approachable, and collaborative.

Additional Information

We pride ourselves on:

• People first: We're a company of individuals, united in doing our best for our clients.
• Great food, always: Using only the best ingredients, our food is fresh, authentic and tailored to each school, age group, and specific needs and preferences.
• Food education: We educate pupils through food, encouraging them to understand and develop their own personal tastes and make informed food choices.
• Respect in everything we do: Our respectful codes of conduct inform how we behave towards our clients and customers, suppliers and business partners, and each other.
• Fresh thinking: New ideas for food, service and ways of working help us maintain our position as creative leaders in school catering.

In order to be considered for this role you must be able to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. Holroyd Howe is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all employees to share this commitment. All roles within Holroyd Howe involve regulated activity. It is a criminal offence for individuals barred from working with children to apply for such roles. An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Barred List check will be required for all successful applicants. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to provide information about relevant criminal offences and will be subject to an online search of publicly available information. This search helps identify any issues that may affect suitability to work with children. This appointment is offered on the return of satisfactory professional references.

Employment Type: Permanent - 52 Weeks

Contract Type: Full Time

Salary: Up to £35,000