Catering Assistant

£25,466 – £26,739 | 4 Days On, 4 Days Off | 10-Hour Shifts (8:30am – 6:30pm)

Are you ready to bring energy, dedication, and teamwork to a fast-paced catering environment? We’re looking for a driven and reliable Catering Assistant to join our dynamic team at Derwentside IRC, where every day brings new challenges and the chance to make a real impact.

Why This Role?
At Derwentside IRC, you'll be more than just part of the kitchen team—you'll help shape the daily experience of those we support. From preparing meals to ensuring high hygiene standards, you'll contribute to a critical service within a secure and professional setting.

Your Rota:

• 4 days on, 4 days off
• 10-hour shifts from 8:30am to 6:30pm
• Predictable work-life balance

What You'll Be Doing:

• Assisting the chef in preparing and serving nutritious meals
• Maintaining clean and hygienic kitchen and storage areas
• Managing stock rotation, deliveries, and catering records
• Supporting compliance with food safety, health & safety, and security procedures
• Interacting with other departments and suppliers in a professional and timely manner

What You’ll Bring:

• NVQ/SVQ or City & Guilds in Food Preparation (or equivalent)
• Food Safety Level 2 or 3 certification
• An understanding of HACCP and allergen control
• Strong communication skills and a team-first attitude
• Previous catering experience in a high-pressure setting (e.g. military, healthcare, or custodial)

What We Offer:

• A stable full-time role with clear hours and rota
• A supportive team within a nationally respected organisation
• Development opportunities across Serco’s wider operations
• A meaningful role where your contribution truly matters

Why Serco

A place you can make an impact - The nature of our business means you will do interesting work that matters – delivering essential services that touch people’s lives.

A place you can count on - Our diverse UK-wide operations offer unrivalled opportunities to learn and develop. You’ll be able to broaden your experience and apply your skills in new ways.

A place for you - We are a motivated team who will encourage you and help you to succeed within a supportive and safe culture.

What we offer

• Pension Up to - 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Chance to contribute to innovation in the public services
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion
• A Serco benefits portal offering a wide range of discounts for major high street brands in Retail, Leisure & Hospitality
• A safe and supportive culture
• A company passionate about diversity and inclusion

Choose Serco for the opportunity to work with a company that prioritizes the betterment of people's lives and the provision of quality accommodation for those in need.

About Serco
At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services.  We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Apply
Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. 

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.  For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.
 

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.