Canteen Operative

Canteen Operative

Full-Time 24000 - 30000 ÂŁ / year (est.) No home office possible
Yeo Valley

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join our canteen team to prepare and serve delicious food while ensuring top-notch hygiene standards.
  • Company: Proudly independent British brand, making high-quality yogurts and desserts.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive holidays, healthcare cashback, and learning opportunities.
  • Other info: Flexible hours with great career growth potential in a supportive environment.
  • Why this job: Be part of a friendly team and make a real impact on customer experiences.
  • Qualifications: Strong organisational skills and a positive attitude are essential.

The predicted salary is between 24000 - 30000 ÂŁ per year.

You will work as an essential part of the Cannington canteen team, supporting the smooth running of daily food service operations. This includes preparing high-quality food items, cooking breakfasts and lunches, producing sandwiches and grab-and-go items, maintaining excellent hygiene standards, and delivering friendly, efficient customer service. You will contribute to the delivery of daily KPIs, ensuring food safety, efficiency, and a positive customer experience.

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

  • Safety
    • Work safely at all times, following company Health & Safety policies.
    • Ensure equipment is used correctly and maintained in safe working order.
    • Promote a positive safety culture and challenge unsafe behaviours.
  • Quality & Food Standards
    • Prepare food to a consistently high standard, following recipes and specifications.
    • Maintain excellent food hygiene, adhering to HACCP, allergen controls, and “clean as you go” practices.
    • Ensure all sandwiches, salads, and buffet items are produced accurately, attractively, and on time.
    • Escalate any quality or food safety concerns immediately.
    • Complete all required paperwork clearly and accurately.
  • Service
    • Provide friendly, efficient front-of-house service to staff and visitors.
    • Operate the till and process card payments.
    • Respond to customer queries or complaints professionally.
    • Support menu planning and communicate daily menu items clearly.
  • Cooking & Food Preparation
    • Cook and serve breakfasts and lunches to agreed standards.
    • Prepare sandwiches, wraps, salads, and packed items for internal customers.
    • Ensure correct portioning, stock rotation, and minimal food waste.
  • Organisation & Housekeeping
    • Maintain a clean, organised working environment at all times.
    • Ensure stock is rotated, labelled, and stored correctly.
    • Carry out deep cleaning tasks as required.
    • Keep preparation areas, fridges, and equipment tidy and compliant with hygiene standards.
  • People & Teamwork
    • Work collaboratively with colleagues to meet daily targets.
    • Support new starters with basic training and guidance.
    • Participate in team briefings and contribute ideas for improvement.
    • Maintain a positive and respectful working environment.
  • Profit & Efficiency
    • Minimise waste and use resources efficiently.
    • Support accurate stock control and daily stock checks.
    • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency or reduce costs.

The working hours for this role are 42 hours per week (06:00 - 18:00) working on a 4 on 4 off shift pattern.

Essential:

  • Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks.
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Positive attitude, adaptable, and proactive.
  • Attention to detail and commitment to high standards.
  • Understanding of health & safety and food safety requirements.

Desirable:

  • Experience in cooking and food preparation, ideally in a canteen, school, cafĂ©, or restaurant.
  • Confident in sandwich preparation and working to production deadlines.
  • Ability to work flexible hours.
  • Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2).

Why should I join the family?

We’re independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK’s major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1700 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK’s packaged yogurt. We’re sure you don’t need convincing, but there’s a whole host of benefits that we offer. It goes without saying that you'll have access to free parking, top of the range personal protection equipment (PPE) and your own locker. You'll also receive the following:

  • Competitive holiday allowance
  • Non-contributory pension scheme
  • Life cover
  • Healthcare cash back plan
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Subsidised Yeo Valley products
  • Services preferential rates with our partners
  • Learning and development opportunities; we’re committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow.

Our closing dates are a guide for when the application window should close, although we may close the advert sooner if we can. So, we recommend you get your application in straight away – and don’t miss the opportunity to join us! Unfortunately, we’re not able to provide employment sponsorship to candidates at this moment in time. Please note that Yeo Valley do not accept speculative agency applications; we will only accept applications from preferred suppliers that have been submitted to us via our recruitment portal at the point of instruction.

Canteen Operative employer: Yeo Valley

At Yeo Valley, we pride ourselves on being an independent British company that values its employees and fosters a supportive work culture. As a Canteen Operative, you'll enjoy competitive benefits including a non-contributory pension scheme, healthcare cash back plan, and opportunities for personal growth within our thriving team. With a commitment to high-quality food service and a positive working environment, you'll be part of a family dedicated to excellence in every aspect of our operations.
Yeo Valley

Contact Detail:

Yeo Valley Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Canteen Operative

✨Tip Number 1

Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Yeo Valley. Understand their values, products, and what makes them tick. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of the family.

✨Tip Number 2

Practice your cooking skills! Since this role involves food preparation, brush up on your cooking techniques and hygiene practices. Being able to talk confidently about your experience in the kitchen can really set you apart during the interview.

✨Tip Number 3

Show off your teamwork spirit! Be ready to share examples of how you've worked well with others in previous roles. Highlighting your ability to collaborate and support colleagues will resonate well with the hiring team.

✨Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We recommend submitting your application directly on our recruitment portal. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people and increases your chances of landing that job!

We think you need these skills to ace Canteen Operative

Organisational Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Communication Skills
Attention to Detail
Health & Safety Knowledge
Food Safety Knowledge
Cooking Skills
Food Preparation Skills
Customer Service Skills
Teamwork
Adaptability
Proactivity
Time Management
Basic Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2)

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Skills: When you're writing your application, make sure to highlight your strong organisational skills and attention to detail. We want to see how you can prioritise tasks and maintain high standards in food preparation.

Be Personable: Since customer service is key in this role, let your friendly and proactive attitude shine through in your application. Share any experiences where you've provided excellent service or worked well in a team.

Know Your Stuff: Familiarise yourself with health and safety regulations and food hygiene standards. Mention any relevant experience or certifications you have, like a Basic Food Hygiene Certificate, to show us you're serious about food safety.

Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our recruitment portal! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to join our team.

How to prepare for a job interview at Yeo Valley

✨Know Your Stuff

Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of a Canteen Operative. Understand food safety standards, hygiene practices, and how to prepare high-quality food items. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the role.

✨Show Off Your Skills

If you have experience in cooking or food preparation, be ready to share specific examples. Talk about your ability to work under pressure, manage time effectively, and maintain high standards. This will help demonstrate your fit for the fast-paced environment.

✨Customer Service is Key

Since you'll be providing front-of-house service, think of examples where you've delivered excellent customer service. Be prepared to discuss how you handle queries or complaints, as well as how you contribute to a positive atmosphere in the workplace.

✨Team Player Vibes

Collaboration is crucial in this role, so highlight your teamwork skills. Share experiences where you've worked with others to achieve goals or improve processes. This will show that you can contribute positively to the canteen team.

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