Catering Manager

Organization: The GORSE Academies Trust / Hillcrest Academy (via Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency)

Location: GORSE / Hillcrest Academy, United Kingdom

Job Type: Permanent, Term Time Only + 1 working week (35 hours per week)

Salary: Grade B2 (SCP 6-7) £26,846 - £27,274 | Actual Salary: £21,842 - £22,190 per annum

Start Date: September 2026

Application Closing Date: Open until filled (Note: Candidates will be shortlisted and interviewed while the advert remains live; early applications are strongly encouraged).

Job Introduction

Lead an in-house catering service and make a daily difference for students and staff!

Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency is proud to partner with The GORSE Academies Trust to recruit an enthusiastic, organised, and dedicated Catering Manager for Hillcrest Academy.

GORSE has a well-known reputation for changing the deal for children and young adults from impoverished backgrounds, striving to remove the link between poverty and academic underperformance. In this role, you will play a key part in delivering a high-quality, nutritious, and welcoming dining experience, overseeing daily academy kitchen operations, food production, hygiene safety, and customer service.

About the Role

As Catering Manager, you will work closely with the Trust Catering Manager to lead the kitchen team and create an environment where students enjoy safe, healthy, and appealing meals daily. Key responsibilities include:

Kitchen Operations & Service: Managing daily food preparation, cooking, and service standards across academy dining facilities.
Team Leadership: Leading, motivating, and developing a small catering team to deliver exceptional service standards.
Safety & Compliance: Ensuring rigorous adherence to food safety regulations, hygiene standards, and HACCP principles.
Stock & Budget Management: Overseeing stock control, ordering, and budget monitoring efficiently.
Promotion of Healthy Eating: Supporting the trust's mission to provide wholesome, nutritious meals that support student wellbeing and academic focus.

About You

We are looking for an experienced catering professional with a positive, reliable, and flexible approach. Essential requirements include:

Proven experience working within a busy catering or kitchen environment, including food preparation and service.
Sound knowledge of food safety regulations, hygiene standards, and HACCP principles.
Strong organizational, time management, and budget-monitoring skills.
Level 2 Food Safety or Food Hygiene Certificate (with a willingness to achieve Level 3 if not already held).
Experience within a school or educational setting is highly desirable.

Why Join GORSE?

The GORSE Academies Trust offers professional growth, expert support, and a generous benefits package, including:

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
A strong commitment to professional development and career progression
Access to a 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
£2k Cycle to Work scheme