Job title: Agency Chef Location: Reading Contract type: Temp Starting on: Sep 2025 Rate of pay: Mon- Fri £15.00 to £20.00 + Holiday pay per hour Weekends £15.00 to £30.00 per hour + Holiday pay per hour Are you wanting to choose the hours you work and be paid for every hour you work? Do you enjoy working in a variety of different kitchens gaining experience in all sectors of our industry? If the answer is yes, then we would love to hear from you. The role: You will be working for one of the UK's leading recruitment agencies providing chefs cover to a variety of catering and hospitality business. Our clients are: Hotels, Golf clubs, Sporting Venues, Private clubs, Garden centres, Retirement villages, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Pubs, and Restaurants along with many other catering and hospitality venues. As a chef, you will work in different venues providing vital cover to ensure that our clients can provide a great food offer to their customers. Benefits: Paid weekly Hourly Pay Flexible working hours Free meals whilst on duty Free Parking available Opportunities to gain experience in diverse venues Training and development available Key information: Immediate Start Choose your working days and we will match you with suitable shifts Work Monday to Friday or just weekends - The choice is yours. Variety of shift patterns available for full time and part time hours Key responsibilities include: Knowledge and ability to independently and effectively run your section, for example, meat, fish, vegetables, pastry, butchery, sauces, grill, starches, starters, fry, pantry and roast The ability to supervise, engage and teach Commis Chefs and Kitchen Assistants The ability to delegate tasks appropriately Ability to work without close supervision and deliver quality work Strong ability to produce good quality food and first-rate culinary skills A flair, passion and a love of ingredients Strong organisational skills An ability to work unsupervised and consistently deliver quality work Experience of a variety of kitchen environments and cuisines Awareness of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Good maths/numeracy skills Good oral communication with all members of the team Prepare, cook and present food as per your station Prepare food to ordering during service as per your station/section e.g. meat, fish, vegetables, pastry, butchery, sauces, grill, starches, starters, fry, pantry and roast Ensure you and your team have high standards of food hygiene and follow the rules of health and safety practises in the kitchen Manage and train any assigned Commis Chefs or Demi-Chef de Parties working with you Monitor portion and waste control to maintain profit margins May be involved in assisting the Head Chef and Sous Chef in creating menu items, recipes and developing dishes As a Chef you will be/have: Strong attention to detail Enthusiasm and willingness to develop your own skills and knowledge, plus those around you Flexible and have a willingness to embrace new ideas and processes Good team management skills Team player qualities and the ability to work well with staff at all levels in the kitchen Positive and approachable manner Able to thrive in a fast-paced kitchen A cool/calm/level head when under pressure and during a busy service *In the care sector need a basic awareness of allergens, special diets, portion control and recipe costings, under guidance from the Sous Chef or Head Chef Qualifications/Licences/Certifications/Experience City &amp; Guilds 706/1 or 706/2 in Catering NVQ/SVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) Level 1 and 2 Food Safety Awards Minimum 1 year's relevant experience Awareness of manual handling techniques Awareness of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) and chemical safety Experience of kitchen equipment including different knives Understandable level of English spoken and written Any health and safety and food hygiene courses Desired but not necessary Level 2 Health and Safety in the Workplace Award Level 3 Food Safety AwardsBlue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.

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