Centre: NMT Enrichment Centre Aylesbury
Employer: New Meaning Training
Salary: Salary is negotiable and based on experience
Type: Full Time, Permanent, All-year-round
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Schedule: 08:00-16:00 Weekdays
Job Reference: BUCAYCAT042601
Do you want a role where your skills can genuinely change a young person’s life? Are you someone who finds real satisfaction in guiding others — whether that’s been in a busy kitchen, a café, a youth centre, or through community based work?
We’re looking for a Tutor to launch our brand-new “Introduction to Catering” course at our expanded Aylesbury Enrichment Centre — a building many people still know as the former Healthy Living Centre in Walton Court. The site includes a fully functioning café, which will become the practical heart of this exciting new programme.
This role is perfect for someone who brings real-world experience and a passion for helping young people grow. You might have completed a formal catering qualification but discovered your real strength lies in mentoring and supporting young people. Or you may have spent years working in kitchens — the person who naturally takes newcomers under their wing, teaches them the ropes, and helps them feel confident, even without formal teaching or catering qualifications. If you care about food, people, and positive change, you’ll fit right in.
This is a rare opportunity to shape a brand-new course from the ground up. You’ll create a welcoming, hands-on learning experience where learners aged 15–25 can build confidence, learn foundational catering and hospitality skills, and experience the rhythm of real café work in a safe, encouraging environment.
Many of our learners have additional needs or have struggled in traditional education. They thrive when learning feels calm, practical, and rooted in real life. As our Introduction to Catering Tutor, you’ll be the person who helps them take small steps, celebrate progress, and rediscover what they’re capable of — those “lightbulb moments” that can transform their futures. If you’re looking for a rewarding career where your experience and empathy genuinely matter, this role offers the chance to make a lasting difference.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and deliver engaging, hands-on sessions for the Introduction to Catering curriculum (Entry 3/Level 1), making full use of the onsite café as a practical learning environment.
- Teach core catering and hospitality skills such as food preparation, basic cooking techniques, kitchen safety, hygiene, teamwork, customer service and understanding how a real café operates.
- Support learners to build confidence, communication and essential life and work skills through practical, real world café activities.
- Embed Functional Skills in Maths and English naturally through catering tasks (e.g., weights, timings, money handling, reading instructions).
- Create a calm, structured, nurturing environment that supports learners with a wide range of needs, including SEND and SEMH.
- Use trauma informed, relational approaches to behaviour, wellbeing and engagement.
- Maintain accurate records of learner progress, attendance and individual learning outcomes.
- Work collaboratively with LSAs, tutors from other pathways and pastoral staff to ensure a cohesive, supportive learning experience.
- Provide meaningful opportunities for learners to explore hospitality and catering pathways, develop employability skills, and prepare for adulthood.
- Communicate effectively with parents/carers, external professionals and internal support teams where appropriate.
You Will Have
- Experience in catering, hospitality or working in a kitchen — or experience in youth work, mentoring or supporting young people, with a passion for food and hands-on learning.
- A genuine enthusiasm for helping young people build confidence and discover their strengths through practical, real-life activities.
- Experience teaching, training, coaching or mentoring — or a strong willingness to develop these skills with our support.
- Ideally, a Level 3 Award in Education & Training (or willingness to work towards it — we can help).
- Ideally, a Level 2 in food Hygiene (or willingness to work towards it — we can help).
- An understanding of (or enthusiasm to learn about) safeguarding, SEND and trauma informed practice.
- Strong communication skills and a warm, encouraging, steady approach with young people.
- Good organisational skills and confidence with keeping basic records (training provided).
- A calm, patient, reflective mindset and a genuine commitment to nurturing learners who may have struggled in traditional education.
- Basic IT literacy (Microsoft 365).
- A full UK driving licence is desirable but not essential.
About Us
New Meaning Training (NMT) offers education with a difference. We are an alternative education provider dedicated to helping young people aged 15-25 discover their strengths and develop the confidence and skills to earn their own living.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, around 300 young people from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, and Berkshire will join one of our programmes. Many of these students are referred by secondary schools, pupil referral units, and Special Education Needs settings.
Our journey began in 2015 with the opening of our first centre in High Wycombe, originally known as “Toolshed.” Ten years on, NMT continues to grow, with two new centres that opened for the 2025-2026 academic year.
New Meaning Training delivers a broad offer across several counties, and in Buckinghamshire we operate three centres—High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes—that provide flexible pathways for young people to build confidence, develop skills and move toward positive destinations. Across these centres, learners can access a varied mix of SETPD “Introduction to…” courses, including Catering, Computing, Community Care, Motor Mechanics, Creative Art & Design and Hair & Beauty, alongside our established Construction Multiskills programme, Boost Workskills, and Achieve Lifeskills. We also offer Transition Support; an outreach programme designed for young people who need time and tailored support before reengaging with a learning environment. All programmes incorporate Functional Skills in Maths and English, supported by tutorials that build personal growth, wellbeing and employability. Each Buckinghamshire centre has its own character: High Wycombe will expand into a new dedicated learning space on Baker Street from September 2026; Aylesbury occupies the muchloved former Healthy Living Centre; and Milton Keynes offers a distinctive practical setting in its converted lighting shop. Together, these centres form a key part of our wider regional provision.
NMT tailors its programmes to meet the needs of its learners, considering Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. We comprehensively apply the principles of a Loving Care Approach (Trauma Informed Practice) to ensure all young people receive the support they need to thrive.
Why work for New Meaning Training?
Generous annual leave
- 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
- Up to 10 additional “gifted” days off each year (taken during school holiday periods)
- Annual leave increases with length of service, up to a maximum of 24 days
Pension
- Auto enrolment into The People’s Pensionenrolment into The People’s Pension
- 5% employee contribution with 3% employer contribution
Blue Light Card
- Access to hundreds of national discounts (retail, food, travel, days out)
- Admin fee fully reimbursed by NMT
Service recognition
- Additional annual leave as a thank you for long serviceyou
- Gift rewards at key milestones (e.g. 5 and 10 years)
Wellbeing benefits
- Annual flu vaccination voucher (paid for by NMT)
- Birthday gift voucher to celebrate your day
Sustainable travel schemes
- Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice)
- Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus Energy (salary sacrifice)
- Green Travel to Work initiatives with rewards for taking part
A supportive, values led workplaceled workplace
- Strong focus on staff wellbeing, development, and collaboration
- Training and CPD supported as part of your role
- The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives
Additional notes
- New Meaning Training is committed to safer recruitment practices in line withKeeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). Appointment to this role will be subject toappropriate preemployment checks, including a DBS check at the relevant level.
- All colleagues are expected to read, understand, and adhere to New Meaning Training’s policies and procedures, including those relating to safeguarding, professional conduct, and data protection.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £24,784.50-£40,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Sick pay
Experience:
- mentoring or supporting young people: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
