Assistant Cook

Join HCL as an Assistant Cook at Hazelmere School in Colchester (25 hours per week), helping to prepare nutritious meals that support children’s learning and wellbeing. This is a rewarding school catering role in Essex with a trusted employer where safeguarding is the number one priority and teamwork is at the heart of everything.

Key Responsibilities
- Support the Cook Manager with preparation, cooking and service of fresh, balanced school meals
- Assist with portioning, plating and serving food efficiently during busy lunch periods
- Maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and allergen awareness in line with policies
- Help with deliveries, stock rotation, basic record keeping, and kitchen set-up/close-down
- Promote a positive dining experience for pupils and staff while following safeguarding procedures

What You’ll Need
- Experience in a kitchen, catering or food prep role (school/education catering is desirable)
- A good understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergens; willingness to complete training
- Reliability, strong timekeeping and the ability to work well in a small team
- A calm, caring approach when working in a school environment and commitment to safeguarding

Why Apply
Earn from £12.84 per hour and build a stable career in school catering with HCL, a leading provider serving millions of meals each year, with training and progression opportunities in Essex.