Catering Assistant - Derby Theatre

derby.ac.uk; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

A local arts venue in the UK is seeking a Catering Assistant to work in its Café and Bar, responsible for providing excellent customer service, preparing light meals, and handling cash. The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays. Candidates should have experience in high-standard service environments and demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills. Full training will be provided, and a barista qualification is preferred. Apply now to join a vibrant team in a fostering workplace environment.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace culture

Training provided

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a fast-paced, high-standard service environment.
• Experience of food handling and service in a café or bar environment.
• Familiarity with till systems and card machine payments.

Responsibilities

• Daily operation of the catering functions ensuring high presentation standards.
• Prepare and serve a menu of light meals following food hygiene regulations.
• Provide a positive and high-quality service to all customers.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Ability to handle cash

Ability to work under pressure

Sales-oriented approach

Education

Barista qualification or training

Job description

Onsite
This role will be based on site, primarily in the named location.

Please note: applicants already contracted to full-time positions within the University are not permitted to undertake additional contracted hours due to the weekly working time directive.

We have one simple promise – to make a positive impact. Through our ground-breaking research, teaching excellence and commitment to sustainable living, we are changing lives for the better.

The University of Derby is a modern university with a modern outlook. Everything we do is driven by delivering excellence and opportunities for our students, our staff and our region.

We have some of the best university facilities in the UK and achieve outstanding results for our teaching and research and have been awarded Gold in the prestigious Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023 – making it one of the top universities in the country recognised for its outstanding student experience and student outcomes.

Financially strong and seriously ambitious we offer our employees an inclusive culture that centres itself around staff wellbeing, where you can be confident you will receive all the help and encouragement you need to build a rewarding career with lots of opportunities to enhance your skills.

At Derby Theatre, we are a charity and a National Portfolio organisation for Arts Council England, and we’re known for artistic excellence. We’re committed to education. And we believe that theatre can change your life.

Previously Derby Playhouse, we have a long and important theatrical history. As Derby Theatre, we work in partnership with the University of Derby and are a home for higher education students. We produce new plays and projects, collaborate with artists and local people, and offer training for young people too, with opportunities for learners of all ages. It’s all about empowering people to tap into their potential and achieve.

You will be working in the Café and Bar within Derby Theatre. The café is open seven days a week, depending on performances, and you will be serving day-time trade as well as audiences of the theatre.

Hours are as and when required, based on a rota which is created monthly based on your stated availability.

You will have and be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and will have the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, under time pressure. The role involves weekend, evening and public holiday availability. You will be handling food and alcohol and making sales directly to the public, and therefore have the ability to handle cash. Full training will be provided but experience in customer service and food service is desirable.

What should I expect if I am invited to an interview?

We aim to make the interviews as accessible and engaging as possible, and we want you to talk about yourself and your work experience in a relaxed and friendly setting.

We believe an interview is a chance for you to find more information about the role, us as an organisation and for you to get a sense of whether this is the right environment for you.

With this in mind, we have designed an interview process which will enable potential candidates to meet members of the team and partners, see some of the spaces you might be working in, and of course a chance to talk about you and your work experience.

• Daily operation of the catering functions in line with procedures, ensuring a high standard of presentation.
• To act as a barista (making espresso-based coffee drinks) and serve a selection of hot and cold drinks, including alcohol.
• Prepare and deliver a menu of light meals including soup, toasties and sandwiches following food hygiene and health and safety regulations. This will also include baking some traybakes, cakes and scones (training is provided).
• Promotion and upsell of all products, including food, ice cream, confectionary and beverages with a high standard of product knowledge.
• Support the catering operation during functions, events and press nights.
• Cash handling and transaction processes including the use of a till system and the use of card machines.
• Adhere to all operational procedures, including keeping temperature records for refrigerators, stock rotation, food dating and labelling.
• Minimise wastage on site by preparing efficiently, in line with the estimated footfall.
• To have basic understanding of all allergens and to be able to provide customers with information they require.
• Provide a positive, accessible and high-quality service to all customers and colleagues in all front of house areas of work at all buildings associated with Derby Theatre.
• To be a flexible member of staff and work, as necessary, across catering aspects of the building where possible.
• To actively support and promote Derby Theatre’s Learning Theatre model, including a commitment to engage with the University of Derby’s Theatre-related higher education provision; to contribute to learning opportunities such as work experience, placements, and the theatre’s role as a learning environment.
• To keep up to date with developments in the industry as they relate to your role, and to contribute to the overall development of the department and organisation.
• To take an active role in the team and staff as a whole, and to attend team, departmental or cross-organisation meetings as required.
• To ensure that Derby Theatre’s policies, procedures and values are observed in every area of the department’s work and to ensure that General Data Protection Regulations are adhered to as they relate to your role.
• To contribute to the development of departmental policies and practices.
• To act always in the best interests of Derby Theatre, protecting intellectual property and confidential information at all times.
• To carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time, commensurate with the level of the post.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to maintain high standards of service while working under pressure
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Numerate, with the ability to handle cash and operate a Point of Sale system

Business requirements

• Ability to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, as required
• Ability to uphold the vision and values of Derby Theatre

Qualifications

• Barista qualification or training

Experience

• Experience of working in a fast paced, high standard service environment
• Experience of food handling and service, in a café or bar environment
• Familiarity with till systems and card machine payments
• Experience of Food Safety regulations and protocols
• Experience of cooking, baking and food preparation
• Experience of working in a theatre or arts environment

Skills, knowledge and abilities

• Sales-oriented and target-driven approach

Please refer to the job description for Derby Theatre benefits.

Please note benefits from University of Derby do not apply.

For further information and informal enquiries regarding the role, please contact Iona Henry, Catering Manager via [e-mail]

For enquiries regarding your application and for sponsorship eligibility, please contact the recruitment team via [e-mail].

The Theatre is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers under the Skilled Worker route for this role; however, applications are welcome from candidates who are able to demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

At Derby Theatre we aim to actively champion and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all of those we work with and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation.

We positively encourage disabled people, people of African or Caribbean heritage, South Asian heritage, East Asian heritage, West Asian heritage, Central Asian heritage, South East Asian heritage and people of Middle East and North African heritage and those who have experienced racism. By the term ‘those who have experienced racism’, we are referring to individuals who have experienced discrimination based on the colour of their skin, race and/or their culture.

We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer, demonstrating our commitment to disability inclusion, and invite applicants to highlight adjustments they may require to ensure equitable participation in our recruitment processes.

At the University of Derby, we are passionate about embedding sustainability into everything that we do. We aim to bring environmental sustainability into all aspects of the University, including teaching, research and operational activities. In line with the University's strategic framework, we expect all our staff to embed sustainability into their working practices and support the University's objective to reach net zero carbon by 2050.

Be part of something extraordinary, apply now.

How to apply

You can apply by submitting an online application. Once you have signed in or registered with us you will be able to begin your application. If you are creating an account for the first time, please ensure you provide an email address that you access regularly as this will be our main means of contacting you regarding your application.

The University reserves the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you require any assistance, including the provision of any documentation in an alternative format, please contact the Recruitment team at [e-mail].

Please note all applications must be submitted online by Midnight GMT on the closing date of the vacancy.

The University of Derby is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our staff, students and children. At the University of Derby, safeguarding is everybody's concern.