A Catering Assistant is a vital role within the food service industry, supporting chefs and catering managers with daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and customer service. They are often responsible for maintaining cleanliness in dining areas and assisting with transactions.
Key Responsibilities
Food Preparation: Preparing simple food items such as sandwiches, salads, paninis, and jacket potatoes.
Service: Serving food to customers, plating meals, and operating coffee machines.
Cleaning & Maintenance: Clearing tables, cleaning workstations, washing dishes, and sweeping floors to maintain hygiene standards.
Customer Service: Taking customer orders, operating tills, and handling transactions.
Compliance: Following Health & Safety, COSHH, and food hygiene regulations.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Experience: Previous experience in hospitality or customer service is desirable but not always necessary, as training is often provided.
Skills: Strong communication skills, ability to work in a fast-paced environment, and a team-player attitude.
Certifications: While not always required, holding a basic food hygiene certificate is a plus.
Working Conditions
Environment: Fast-paced settings such as restaurants, cafes, schools, hospitals, or corporate venues.
Hours: Shifts can be flexible, including weekends and early mornings.
Physical Demands: Requires being physically active, as the role involves standing for long periods and moving around the kitchen/service area