Kitchen Porter

Role summary

Thomas Franks is hiring a Kitchen Porter for a permanent full-time position in Winchester. The role is based onsite in a busy school catering environment serving over 900 students and staff each day. The working week is 40 hours, and shifts are generally arranged across 5 days out of 7, with hours running from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday.

About the setting

This is a large independent boarding and day school for girls aged 3 to 18, alongside a co-educational preschool. The catering operation covers breakfast, mid-morning snacks, lunch, dinner, match teas, hospitality, and external lettings across the year. The site operates seven days a week, and the location includes free on-site parking. The business also works with both term-time and full 52-week contracts.

What the role involves

You will help maintain a clean, hygienic, and safe kitchen that meets very high standards. You will support the chefs, contribute to smooth kitchen operations, and make sure equipment and work areas are kept in excellent condition.

Main duties

• Assist with pot-washing and general kitchen porter tasks.
• Support chefs with basic food preparation when needed.
• Keep the kitchen consistently clean and hygienic.
• Clean and maintain kitchen equipment to a high standard.
• Use cleaning materials and instructions to clean heavy catering equipment, including air filtration and extraction systems.
• Run and operate the industrial dishwasher.
• Help uphold the site’s food safety and cleanliness standards at all times.

What they are looking for

The employer prefers previous kitchen porter or similar food-service experience, but this is not essential. A positive attitude, good organisation, teamwork, and the ability to work effectively in a customer- and food-preparation environment are important.

Knowledge and communication

Candidates should be able to show a reasonable to good understanding of spoken English, as well as reasonable to good written English and reading ability.

Pay and contract

This is a permanent full-time role with a salary of £26,436 per year and 40 hours per week.

Benefits

The position includes access to a wider wallet scheme with discounts at major retailers, restaurants, gyms, and more, free meals while on duty, volunteer leave of up to one day per year, enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoptive leave, a cycle-to-work scheme, a refer-a-friend bonus, strong training and development, an established apprenticeship programme, team and company social events, an employee assistance programme, a workplace pension, and good career progression within a leading independent contract caterer.

About the employer

Thomas Franks is a founder-led fresh food catering company that focuses on quality, service, individuality, passion, and style. The organisation values both its clients and its people as central to its success.

Important requirements

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. The selection process includes an enhanced DBS check, identity verification, and reference checks covering the last five years. Because this role is in a school setting, applications are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and any criminal conviction, caution, or bind-over must be declared.

Diversity and inclusion

The employer encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds and is working to build a more inclusive workplace with greater representation from under-represented groups.