Centre: NMT Bucks & Herts, NMT Enrichment Centre Aylesbury
Employer: New Meaning Training
Salary: Salary negotiable and based on experience
Type: Full Time, Permanent, All-year-round
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Schedule: Monday to Friday 08:00-16:00
Job Reference: BUCAYCKP062601
A great kitchen relies on more than the food being served. Behind every successful service is a well-organised, clean and supportive environment where people can work confidently, learn new skills, and contribute as part of a team. At New Meaning Training, our café provides exactly that—not just for customers, but for the young people who use it as a stepping stone towards employment and greater independence.
Based within our Aylesbury Enrichment Centre, the café is a real working environment where learners gain practical catering experience while building confidence, communication skills, and workplace habits. Many of the young people we support have found traditional education challenging, and benefit from learning through hands-on activities and meaningful responsibilities.
We’re looking for a Café Kitchen Porter who takes pride in maintaining high standards and understands the important role they play within a kitchen team. Alongside keeping the kitchen clean, organised and running efficiently, you’ll work alongside learners, encouraging their involvement and helping them develop the skills and confidence needed for the workplace. This is an opportunity to be part of a team that combines catering with purpose, helping young people discover what they’re capable of and move towards a more positive future.
Key Responsibilities
Cleaning & Hygiene (Primary Duty)
- Clean and sanitise kitchen surfaces, floors, walls, and workstations
- Wash pots, pans, utensils, crockery, and cutlery continuously during service
- Ensure the entire kitchen is cleaned down after service, ready for the next shift
- Maintain high food hygiene and safety standards at all times
Dishwashing & Equipment Handling
- Operate and maintain commercial dishwashers
- Clean and maintain kitchen equipment (ovens, grills, mixers, sinks, etc.)
- Ensure all equipment is safe, clean, and stored properly
Waste Management
- Empty bins and dispose of food waste and recycling correctly
- Keep waste areas clean and compliant with hygiene standards
Supporting Kitchen Operations
- Assist chefs with basic food preparation (e.g., washing, peeling, chopping ingredients)
- Provide general support to chefs and prep staff during busy periods
- Ensure chefs have a constant supply of clean equipment
Stock & Deliveries
- Receive and unpack deliveries of food and supplies
- Organise stock in fridges, freezers, and storage areas
- Maintain cleanliness and order in storage spaces
General Kitchen Organisation
- Keep the kitchen tidy, organised, and efficient
- Restock equipment and cleaning materials as needed
- Report any faults, shortages, or safety issues to supervisors
Learning Support – to participate and support vocational tutors with:
- Lesson planning
- Learner interviews and work placement coordination
- Marking, leaner feedback and reviews
- Learn coaching and mentoring as required
- Full UK Driving License
Safeguarding Responsibilities
- Have read and understood the Safeguarding and Prevent Policy
- Have read and understood the Safeguarding Process Guide (separate document)
- Have attended an onboarding meeting with the Safeguarding Manager
- Follow the safeguarding processes and procedures
- Ensure your team have read, understood and follow the safeguarding policy and process (separate documents)
- Ensure all your team have complete a level 2 safeguarding course (online or face to face) when they first start
- Ensure all your team complete a level 2 safeguarding refresher course each year
- Attend safeguarding debriefs, courses, workshops, audits as required.
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, just over 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 much loved 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 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 service
- 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 workplace with a 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
You will have…
- Microsoft suite skills.
- Time management and self-organised/planner, able to work within deadlines.
- Passion for sharing knowledge and developing young people..
- Strong communication skills
- Be able to keep accurate records and able to analyse problems.
- Passion for sharing knowledge and learning
- Supportive and enabling.
- Active listener.
- Inquisitive and curious.
- Open minded.
- Focused on strengthening learners
- Pro-active self-development through formal coaching
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £24,784.50 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
Work Location: In person
