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.