Chef jobs

This is an exciting opportunity for an engaging and organised trainer to join our growing charity, supporting our mission to transform children's health through school food and the delivery of an empowering and one-of-a-kind School Chef Educator Training Programme.

Who we are:

Chefs in Schools is a young, ambitious charity that’s rapidly growing. Our mission is to improve kids' health, through improving school food & food education. Working in areas of high deprivation, we support and train schools and their kitchen teams to serve the best, freshest and tastiest food possible, alongside meaningful food education. We share our learning and resources freely, aiming to inspire and enable others to follow our lead.

We’re backed by some of the biggest names in food and have ambitious targets to ensure every child has access to incredible school food and food education, setting them up for life with the skills and knowledge to feed themselves well.

About you and the role:

This role is an integral part of an ambitious programme to empower and train up the country’s school kitchen workforce through our School Chef Educator Programme, a hybrid course set over 10 weeks, including in-person sessions, webinars and self-guided e-learning on our learning platform. The programme has successfully trained over 130 school chefs nationwide, from London to Yorkshire, the West Midlands to Cornwall. 

Our ultimate goal is that every school in the country has a person leading their kitchen who is a recognised food educator, playing a crucial role in shaping kids’ eating habits for life. 

Your role will be to deliver the School Chef Educator Programme both in-person and online to school kitchen workforces across the country, helping to inspire them to achieve higher levels of knowledge and standards of food quality. 

Supported by the Programme Manager, you will maintain and develop the online learning platform, design new and exciting training materials and learner experiences in order to maintain relevance and attract new customer bases across the school food sector. 

The responsibilities, skills and experience listed below are intended to give you an idea of what we need for this role. If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you would be able to work with us to deliver the majority of them, we urge you to apply anyway. We are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and for us the most important ‘experience’ is passion for our mission. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented communities, to apply.

We want to get to know you at the interview and understand we can do this best if you’re at ease. We’re an inclusive employer and work hard to create a welcoming working environment for everyone, including appointing a neurodiversity champion to help us identify how we can make our work environment work for everyone. If you need adjustments to the interview process, please let us know.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead on the organisation and delivery of in-person and online training sessions to enrolled participants of the School Chef Educator Programme at a variety of locations

• Assist in the maintenance of the online database of participants, schools and funder information

• Manage, monitor and report learner progress to the Programme Manager

• Maintain, update and develop relevant training materials to keep our programme up to date

• Work with our evaluation team to monitor and survey the effectiveness of the training programme

• Design and refine the delivery of the core modules within our training programme as well as additional resources to support organisational objectives

• Lead on planning, scheduling  and delivering programmes, in a time efficient and cost effective manor

• Work with our Fundraising Team to keep them up to date with the latest progress on our training programmes, providing qualitative and quantitative evidence to share with charity funders

• Attend monthly ‘Innovation’ days to develop recipes and other resources, and support the Transformation team with delivery when required

• Support and work with the School Engagement Manager to ensure School Chef Educator Programme cohorts are filled

• Assist in the delivery of events outside of the SCE programme, including membership meetings, fundraising events, networking and wider organisational events

Essential skills & experience include:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to create clear, engaging, and accessible online learning resources

• Great people skills to quickly build rapport with learners from a wide variety of backgrounds and skill levels - striking a balance between being supportive and challenging 

• Excellent digital skills in order to manage participants' online progress and records

• Excellent presentation skills to deliver engaging in-person and live online training sessions

• Excellent organisation, scheduling and time management skills

• Some experience working in a catering or kitchen environment, ability to assist or lead the culinary training elements of the training programme

• Food Hygiene level 2 or 3 

Desirable skills and experience include:

• Experience in delivering well-structured and impactful in-person and online training sessions to a kitchen workforce or adult learners

• An understanding of the challenges and opportunities to working in school food and school catering work environments

• An understanding of hospitality, especially on how to deliver quality food and service within a budget

• Experience delivering multiple online training programmes across different geographical areas

• A full UK driving licence

Benefits:

You would be joining a friendly, supportive team that works hard but believes in a healthy work/life balance. We seek a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge. Joining a small, collaborative team means you’ll be able to contribute to and draw on various projects and strategic insights.

We offer 33 days of holiday per year, including bank holidays, with 3 additional office closure days over the Christmas period, a Cycle to Work scheme, hybrid working, enhanced parental leave, and free access to the CODE app for discounted restaurants & hospitality venues. We are committed to developing our team and will support you with relevant training opportunities including £250 towards elective training and development of your choice.

We also offer Bupa Dental Insurance, Income Protection Insurance, as well as access to the Aviva Health Platform, which offers health benefits including free rapid access online GP appointments, free counselling and wellbeing support.

Application process:

In line with our commitment to ensuring a fair and unbiased recruitment process, we will invite candidates to interview based on their answers to a series of questions that are related to their day-to-day job. Please follow the Redirect to Recruiter link to answer the questions and submit your application along with your CV.

We recommend that you develop your answers offline and then copy them in when you’re ready to ensure you don’t lose your work if you’re interrupted.

Your answers will go through our sift process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers. A long list of candidates will then additionally have their CVs reviewed. Successful candidates will be invited to interview. Candidates getting through to a second interview will be asked to complete a task as below.

Expected duration of this application process: 4-6 weeks

Interview Dates:

1st Stage Interviews (30 minutes online): Interviews will take place on 16th May 2025 and will last 30 minutes.

2nd Stage Interview (in-person): Interviews will take place on 30th May 2025 and will include a 45-minute interview and a 15-minute presentation or training exercise on the topic of ‘Good School Food Culture’ or ‘Expanding Tastebuds’.

Location: Chefs in Schools Offices, International House, 3Space, 6 Canterbury Cres, London SW9 7QD

As we work with children & young people, an offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance, in line with our safeguarding policy.

About The Role

We’re looking for a passionate and skilled Chef to join our catering team at the National Memorial Arboretum. In this role, you’ll help deliver high-quality meals and refreshments across our diverse food outlets, including a 380-cover restaurant, coffee shop, and large-scale hospitality events. You’ll take responsibility for a specific area within the kitchen, ensuring that all food is prepared to the highest standards and served on time.

The Arboretum is the UK’s dedicated year-round centre of Remembrance and is part of the Royal British Legion. At its core, the Royal British Legion is a people-focused organisation. It’s made up of individuals who are committed to doing their very best for others, while also making the most of the opportunities and experiences we provide.

Working across two production kitchens, you’ll play a key role in maintaining a smooth and efficient service. From preparing fresh ingredients to presenting beautifully crafted dishes, you’ll take pride in delivering an exceptional dining experience for visitors, staff, and event guests. You’ll also help uphold food safety and hygiene standards, ensuring the kitchen is clean, organised, and compliant with regulations.

We’re looking for someone with experience in a similar role, ideally within a large-scale catering environment. A catering qualification, knowledge of food safety, and a strong understanding of kitchen operations are essential. You’ll also need to be flexible, as weekend and evening shifts may be required. If you’re a team player with a passion for great food and excellent service, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note that this role will be based onsite at the National Memorial Arboretum, Burton-on-Trent DE13 7AR. This role will be working any 5 from 7 days per week.

Employee benefits include -

- 28 day’s paid holiday per year (plus bank holidays), increasing to 29 days after 2 years and 30 days after 5 years. Plus the ability to buy up to 1 working week of additional leave
- Contributory pension scheme – min 2% employee contribution receives 6% employer contribution up to max of 10% employer contribution matched with 5% employee contribution (until 5 years’ service reached, when 14% employer contribution achievable)
- Death-in-service Life Assurance, with a benefit of 3x annual salary
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Reward Hub online benefits platform with extensive offers and discounts

About the National Memorial Arboretum
The Arboretum is the UK’s leading year-round centre of Remembrance and a proud part of the Royal British Legion. Spread across 150 acres, it is home to more than 350 memorials, including the nationally significant Armed Forces Memorial, paying tribute to the service and sacrifice of those who have served and continue to serve our country. The site is also filled with around 30,000 maturing trees and a wealth of wildlife, making it a beautiful and peaceful place to reflect. Each year, the Arboretum attracts around 300,000 visitors, many of whom attend over 200 events held throughout the year.

In March 2017, the National Memorial Arboretum opened its new award-winning Remembrance Centre, offering an even more powerful and immersive experience for all those who visit. This truly is a special place – a living memorial that honours the dedication and sacrifice of our Armed Forces community.

For more detailed information about the role, please see our Vacancy Information Pack attached to our direct advert.

National Memorial Arboretum is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role(s). Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

We are recruiting a General Advice Officer to support with the delivery of advice and welfare support to vulnerable guests who access the Community Wellbeing Service, a local support hub offering relief from the rising cost of living for local families. The General Advice Officer will support our guests on a range of areas including benefits, immigration, housing, money management and access to training and employment services. The postholder will provide high quality welfare advice and guidance through weekly one-to-one advice sessions, undertake case work, work with partners to facilitate referrals, and provide support to advice volunteers. 

The successful candidate must have at least two years’ experience delivering effective advice or in a similar capacity, demonstrate empathy, an understanding of the issues facing vulnerable people, and have in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of welfare benefits and housing policies/legislations, with a strong focus on achieving tangible outcomes for our guests.

Advice Work

• Carry out assessments to identify urgent needs and appropriate support pathways for members at the Community Wellbeing Service.
• Support outreach or community engagement activities as needed.
• Provide holistic and person-centred advice and casework on the main enquiry areas, particularly welfare benefits, housing, employment, health and wellbeing, immigration and money management.
• Maintain Sufra’s Advice Quality Standards and meeting tangible outcomes.
• Produce detailed case records on our case management system for the purpose of continuity, statistical monitoring and report preparation
• Apply for funds from trusts and foundations to support individuals and families with essential costs such as housing deposits or white-goods and/or cancellation of debts;
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with external stakeholders for joined up working, including statutory and voluntary service providers, making referrals for guests where appropriate.
• Enable and support guests to act for themselves, wherever appropriate.
• Monitor the progression of all cases to the point of resolution.
• Conduct follow-up calls with guests where needed and track outcomes
• Support volunteers who are working on delivering Advice Services e.g triage volunteers and pathways volunteers
• Provide advice to the General Advice Service as and when required

Case Management

• Manage own caseload and work independently to support guests
• Use of Case Management System (AdvicePro) as well as Microsoft Office for communication and document production.
• Support with developing case studies and gathering guest feedback
• Collect statistical information as requested for reporting purposes.
• Feed into the development of monitoring reports for funders and other stakeholders

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain and update the charity’s record of referral and signposting agencies;
• Ensure data protection regulations are adhered to, and that sensitive data is handled in accordance with relevant legislation and organisational procedures.
• Keep informed of new and changing legislation relevant to the post, and of local issues and policies
• Be committed to the aims, procedures and policies of Sufra’s advice service in every aspect of service delivery.
• Take part in supervisions, personal development training, team meetings and appraisals
• Undertake any other reasonable duties to support the operations of the charity.

We are recruiting a high energy and hands on Garden Manager to work closely with the Senior Leadership team at Sufra to support the development and expansion of the community garden, and manage the team of garden staff and volunteers. This is an exciting time in the development of St. Raphael’s Edible Garden, as we are looking for an experienced Garden Manager to oversee the next steps in the development of the site, deliver a range of learning outcomes and fully implement, manage and further develop all aspects of the garden project.

Alongside practical educational outdoor experience, the successful candidate will understand how to design educational programmes that are accessible and engaging for a range of audiences, including school children and young people, adults with additional needs, and wider community. Project management and organisational skills are also essential. This is an immensely rewarding role working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of sharing, hospitality and inclusivity, that would suit a committed individual who is willing to go the extra mile. Through their activities, the Garden Manager will be able to convey the charity’s passion and commitment to supporting vulnerable people in Brent and transforming the lives of beneficiaries.