Sous Chef

What you'll be doing:

Sous Chef - Kendrew Barracks

Salary: £30,360 per annum
37.5 hours per week | 5 days out of 7

Are you an experienced Sous Chef looking for a role that offers genuine work-life balance, job security, and the opportunity to lead a dedicated team?

We are seeking a confident, hands-on Sous Chef to support the delivery of high-quality catering services at Kendrew Barracks. This is an excellent opportunity for a strong kitchen professional who enjoys leading from the front, developing others, and maintaining exceptional standards in a structured and supportive environment.

You will play a key role in the day-to-day running of the kitchen, overseeing food production, supporting hospitality functions, and ensuring an outstanding dining experience for Service Personnel.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and deliver high-quality, nutritious meals to a consistently high standard
• Support the management of daily catering operations and hospitality functions
• Lead, motivate, and develop a dedicated kitchen team
• Maintain excellent food quality, presentation, and service standards
• Manage stock control, ordering, and waste reduction initiatives
• Support budget management and cost control objectives
• Ensure full compliance with Food Safety, Health & Safety, and company procedures
• Contribute to a positive, professional, and collaborative kitchen culture

About You

• Previous experience in a Sous Chef or senior chef position
• A hands-on leadership style with the ability to inspire and support a team
• Strong organisational and communication skills
• Experience working in a high-volume catering environment
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of stock and budget management
• A proactive approach to maintaining food safety and compliance standards
• Passionate about food, quality, and delivering an excellent customer experience

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary of £30,360 per annum
• 37.5-hour working week
• Overtime opportunities available
• Excellent work-life balance compared with many hospitality environments
• Career development and progression opportunities within Compass Group
• Stable, long-term role within a well-established organisation

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Please note: This role is contracted to weeks per year

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/2010/95281001/52396123/R/SU #Defence

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!

Salary

£15.51 per hour

Working conditions

Contract: Full Time