📍 Location: Stroud & Surrounding Areas
💰 Pay: £12.60 per hour
during school hours, term-time only

Join The Great Plate – Where School Lunches Are Made with Love & Care!

Are you a passionate person who believes in the power of good food? Do you want to be part of a team that makes a real difference in children's health and happiness? The Great Plate is looking for a kitchen assistant to help us create delicious, nourishing school lunches that fuel young minds and bodies.

Why Join Us?

✅ Work-Life Balance: No evenings or weekends – perfect for fitting around family life!
✅ Meaningful Work: Help shape young eaters' relationship with healthy, home-cooked food.
✅ Supportive Team: Work with like-minded food lovers in a positive, collaborative kitchen.

About the Role

As a Kitchen Assistant at The Great Plate, you’ll be an essential part of our mission to provide wholesome, high-quality meals to primary school children. Working alongside our chefs and wider team, you’ll support the preparation, packing, and delivery of meals that avoid ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, and artificial additives—ensuring children receive food that’s both nutritious and delicious!

Your Responsibilities Will Include:
🍽️ Meal Support: Assist with preparing fresh, balanced meals from scratch.
🔪 Prep Work: Help with chopping, portioning, and setting up ingredients.
📦 Packing & Distribution: Support the packing of meals and deliver them to schools (a valid driver’s licence and your own car are required).
🥦 Stock & Ingredients: Assist with stock checks and ensure ingredients are stored correctly.
💡 Teamwork: Work closely with the kitchen team, supporting chefs and colleagues as needed.
🧼 Kitchen Standards: Maintain excellent hygiene and food safety practices (Level 2 Food Hygiene required or willingness to obtain).

Who We’re Looking For:

✅ Professional Kitchen Experience – Whether from a restaurant, café, school, or catering background.
✅ Passionate About Fresh, Healthy Food – You care about what children eat and understand the impact of good nutrition.
✅ A Great Team Player – You can use initiative and follow directions without hesitation.
✅ Reliable & Organised – Able to prep and assist with service efficiently in a busy but rewarding environment.

What We Offer:

🍎 A Role with Purpose – Play a key part in improving school food culture.
📅 School-Friendly Hours – Work only during term time, with your holidays free!
📈 Training & Development – Opportunities to grow and refine your skills.

Apply Now! Keep Scrolling For Application Info!

Apply Now!

If you're a confident, person who thrives on responsibility and wants a role that fits your lifestyle, we’d love to hear from you!

Join us in making nourishing, homemade school lunches the norm! 🥕🍞✨

If you’re excited about this role and meet the requirements, we’d love to hear from you! Apply today by sending your CV, a short cover letter explaining why you’d be a great fit and the questions below answered.

📩 To Apply: maisie@thegreatplate.org.uk

About The Great Plate CIC:

 The Great Plate CIC is dedicated to providing delicious, nourishing meals while promoting community engagement and sustainability. We operate with a mission to offer high-quality food and a welcoming environment for everyone. To learn more about us, visit http://www.thegreatplate.org.uk (http://www.thegreatplate.org.uk)  

Safer Recruitment:

 The Great Plate CIC is committed to safer recruitment practices. All employees will undergo a DBS check to ensure the safety and well-being of our community.

Please include answers to the following in your application-:

 1. Can you tell us about a time when you worked effectively as part of a team in a kitchen environment? What was your role and how did you contribute to the team's success?

2. How do you ensure that you maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in a kitchen setting? Can you provide an example of when you had to address a cleanliness issue in the kitchen?

3. How do you prioritize tasks and stay organised in a fast-paced kitchen environment? Can you give an example of a time when you had to manage multiple tasks simultaneously?

4. How do you ensure that you follow food safety and hygiene standards in your work? Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to address a food safety concern?

5. Can you tell us about a time when you had to learn a new skill or take direction in a kitchen setting? How did you approach the learning process and what was the outcome?

6. How do you handle stressful situations in a kitchen environment? Can you provide an example of a time when you had to deal with a challenging situation while working in a kitchen?

7. How do you ensure that kitchen equipment and supplies are properly organised and maintained? Can you give an example of a time when you had to troubleshoot an equipment issue in the kitchen?

8. Can you explain why you are enthusiastic about working in a kitchen environment and how this enthusiasm will benefit The Great Plate ?

Join us at The Great Plate CIC and contribute to a meaningful community initiative while gaining valuable kitchen experience!

We look forward to receiving your application!