Assistant Chef Manager (with cooking)
Aspens Catering
No pay info
DE7 4HH, United Kingdom
Full time, part time
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by parents
- Respectful managers
About Aspens Catering
Aspens Catering is a catering company. They work with schools and colleges.
Job description from Aspens Catering
About Us:
Aspens Services Ltd is a market leading contract catering company specialising in school food. By combining our understanding of the education sector and our knowledge of what's on trend in the food world, we encourage creativity and excitement in our kitchens, allowing our teams to do what they do best and provide fantastic food experiences for the children.
By providing excellent care and services to both clients and children, we have ensured the successful growth of the company and to keep up with the rapid pace of this growth, we are now looking for an experienced Chef Manager to join the team.
The role:
As the Assistant Chef Manager, you will assist the Chef Manager with the operational responsibility for your schools catering facility, while also preparing meals using our recipes, focusing on delivering the highest quality of food and service as well as having the flair, originality and the ability to make this one of the best school catering offers in the area.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Cooking high-quality meals using fresh ingredients
- Leading and motivating the team in your kitchen
- Assisting with catering operation including stock, food, and labour costs
- Ensuring consistency of food and service standards delivered to the students and staff
- Driving sales through monthly promotions and added-value events
- Overseeing menu development
- Maintaining company systems & procedures, and legislation
About you
We need someone who shares our passion for delivering exceptional food and service to our schools along with the following skills and experience:
- Craft-based experience using fresh ingredients
- Knowledge of health and safety practises
- An understanding of gross profit management and achieving sales targets
- Leadership experience
- Experience within a similar environment
Why join us?
Firstly, fantastic hours. You'll work Monday to Friday during school term time meaning more time with friends and family and no working at Christmas!
This role is:
- 35 hours per week - with no late nights
- Working 39 weeks per year based around term time - what could you do with all that time off?
- Highly competitive salary
You'll also benefit from:
- Working for a fast growing, ambitious company. There is no ceiling here in terms of where you can take your career
- A dedicated L&D team to support you in developing your skills including apprenticeships and training courses that are available for everyone.
Please note, we do expect all staff to share our commitment of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children/young people and an enhanced DBS disclosure will be sought by the company.
What employees say
Pay
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Okay
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Only some people are paid a living wage
Do Aspens Catering pay a living wage?
Some people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
43% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are ÂŁ12.60 per hour, and ÂŁ13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do Aspens Catering pay market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
43% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Aspens Catering get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
83% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 23 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Aspens Catering pay sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
68% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Aspens Catering do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
48% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 25 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Good
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Most people don’t worry about their hours
Do workers at Aspens Catering worry about hours?
Most people don’t worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
86% of people report they don’t worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Okay
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Only some people get a choice of shifts
Do Aspens Catering workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Some people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
55% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Aspens Catering?
Some people find it hard to book holiday.
How we know this
55% of people report it’s hard to book holidays.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Good
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Shifts don’t get changed at short notice
Do Aspens Catering managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers don’t change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
96% of people say their manager doesn’t changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 26 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Aspens Catering?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
61% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 23 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Good
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Most parents say it’s good
Is working at Aspens Catering good if you’re a parent or carer?
Most parents and carers say this is a good place to work.
How we know this
81% of people who care for a child or other relative report this is a good place to work.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Whether it’s looking after children or caring for a relative, a good job should support your responsibilities outside of work.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do people at Aspens Catering feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
75% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do people at Aspens Catering get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
77% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 22 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Okay
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Some people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Aspens Catering?
Some people feel stressed here.
How we know this
61% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do people at Aspens Catering enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
79% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Aspens Catering recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
47% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Aspens Catering?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
58% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Aspens Catering?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 62% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 29 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Aspens Catering head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
80% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Aspens Catering is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
55% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between January 2024 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Aspens Catering employees say about their job
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Best thing
The staff are all really friendly and helpful, there’s chances to do apprenticeships, you’re well trained at the start, the pay is good for my age
Worst thing
The work is really labouring
Catering assistant at Aspens Catering, February 2025
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Best thing
The school holidays.
Worst thing
Not being able to book holidays
Unit manager at Aspens Catering, October 2024
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