Apprentice Food Service Assistant

Job Title: Apprentice Food Service Assistant

Department: Commercial Catering

Reporting to: Commercial Community Enterprise Manager

Contract: NSG Apprenticeship Contract, Full Time, Fixed Term (15 months total)*

Salary: £15,433 per annum for first 12 months rising to National Minimum Wage for Age

Hours: 37 hours per week

Annual Leave: 30 days per annum plus statutory Bank Holidays

Pension: NEST Pension Scheme

*12 months plus 3 month EPA*

The Role

Kick-start your career in catering with our Apprentice Food Service Assistant role, a hands-on, full-time opportunity designed to develop your skills while working in a fast-paced college environment. Reporting to the Catering Manager, you will play a vital part in day-to-day food service operations, including preparing and serving meals, maintaining high standards of cleanliness, supporting stock control, and delivering excellent customer service. This role is ideal for someone who is eager to learn, enjoys working as part of a team, and is committed to developing their skills through a Level 3 apprenticeship while upholding food safety, quality, and service standards at all times.

Key Responsibilities

As an Apprentice Food Service Assistant, you will:

• Support the delivery of food service by maintaining clean, well-stocked counters and dining areas.
• Ensure all service areas meet hygiene and presentation standards before, during, and after service.
• Follow guidance on portion sizes, stock rotation, and allergen control to maintain food safety.
• Accurately process sales using the college’s cash system.
• Assist in the organisation and delivery of special or themed catering events.
• Communicate effectively with staff, students, and visitors to ensure smooth service.
• Participate in training and development to support your role and contribute to the success of the team.
• Uphold the College’s values, policies, and commitment to safeguarding and equality.

Please find the full job description here –Apprentice Food Service Assistant

Qualifications

• Grade C or above in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Be willing to achieve a Basic Certificate in Food Hygiene.
• Be willing to undertake and complete all qualifications as specified by the course.

Experience

• Customer service experience is desirable.

Knowledge & Skill

• To have the ability to listen and act on instruction given by other team members with confidence when required to do so.
• Have an interest in the food industry and have basic food knowledge.
• Drive to learn.
• To be a good team player and follow positive examples as instructed.

Why join us?

• Substantial annual leave entitlement plus holiday purchase scheme.
• Health & Wellbeing; free gym membership, 24/7 counselling for you and your family
• Family-friendly policies: flexible hours and a supportive work environment
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): confidential support including and financial advice.
• Professional development: extensive training, mentoring, and career progression opportunities
• Funded CPD opportunities, regular staff development training, and paid volunteering days
• Access to discounted hair and beauty treatments at our onsite salon.
• College benefit scheme – College Extras:
• Up to 15% cashback at top retailers & restaurants
• Discounted gift cards for big brands
• Home & tech upgrades via salary sacrifice
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discounted onsite car parking.

To learn more about working at Middlesbrough College, please visit our Work For Us page.

For further details, please contact Alister Wrigley, Commercial Community Enterprise Manager on Sign in to view email

Safeguarding Our Students

Middlesbrough College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. All staff are expected to share this commitment. If you’re successful, you’ll be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. All roles within the College carry safeguarding responsibilities, including promoting student welfare, reporting any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), and modelling safe and appropriate conduct in line with College policies.

All posts at Middlesbrough College involve regulated activity and are therefore exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (amended 2013 and 2020) mean that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications, related exceptions and further information.

Please be aware that it is a Criminal offence to apply for this post if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity in connection to children.

As part of our shortlisting process, we will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates to identify any safeguarding or reputation‑related concerns (as required by KCSIE).

Right to Work

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Recruitment Process

Applications are shortlisted for interview as they are received, and so early application is encouraged. We reserve the right to commence the interview process and close the vacancy prior to this date.

Equality & Diversity

Middlesbrough College is an equal opportunities employer, committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is valued. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and make recruitment decisions based on skills and experience. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively support applicants with disabilities.