Agency Chef - Reading

Job title: Agency Chef

Location: Reading

Contract type: Temp

Starting on: July 2026

Rate of pay: Mon- Fri £15.00 to £22.00 + Holiday pay per hour

Weekends £15.00 to £32.00 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

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 & 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 Awards

If you've got what it takes to be our next Agency Chef, then don't hesitate to apply today!

Blue Arrow is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to helping find great work opportunities for great people.