Sous Chef

Description:

Sous Chef - Blandford Camp
35 hours per week | £32,465 per annum

We’re looking for an experienced, hands-on Sous Chef to support the delivery of high-quality catering within the Sergeants’ Mess at Blandford Camp. This is a fantastic opportunity for a strong kitchen professional who enjoys leading from the front, working closely with their team, and producing excellent food in a structured, high-volume environment.

This role combines daily feeding for Service Personnel with a strong emphasis on functions and events, which form a key part of the catering offer.

What you’ll be doingPreparing and delivering high-quality, nutritious meals for Service Personnel

Supporting daily feeding numbers of approximately 40 Sergeants and up to 350 Junior Ranks

Playing a key role in the planning and delivery of functions and events (core focus of the role)

Leading from the front in a hands-on Sous Chef position

Supporting, motivating and developing a kitchen team of around 15 colleagues

Ensuring excellent food presentation, consistency, and service standards

Managing food ordering, stock control, and waste minimisation

Maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety

Supporting budget control and contributing to financial targets

Ensuring full compliance with Food Safety and Health & Safety regulations

What we’re looking forProven experience as a Sous Chef or Senior Chef in a similar environment

A hands-on leader who enjoys working alongside their team

Strong organisational and communication skills

Ability to support and manage a team effectively

Calm under pressure in a high-volume catering setting

Reliable, flexible, and able to adapt to changing Mess schedules

A safety-first mindset with a genuine passion for food and service

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

Contributory pension scheme

Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes

Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits

Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, (url removed) and many more

Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more

Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster

Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands

Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes

You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

Please note: This role is contracted to weeks per year

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, ESS is the Defence, Government, and Energy services sector of Compass Group UK & Ireland. We support 250+ UK military establishments, high profile police, secure environments and government sites, along with a range of onshore and offshore facilities including platforms, drilling rigs, floatels and offices for the energy sector. We know that a friendly face makes all the difference, so we look for people who are passionate about delivering excellent customer service, at all levels, to join our teams.

Job Reference: com/0806/(phone number removed)/(phone number removed)/R/SU #Defence

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength