Love cooking but want to avoid the pressure of a busy restaurant?
Help us deliver memorable meals to our visitors, while supporting our mission to inspire people to care for the environment.
Why you’ll love working with us:
Permanent seasonal role: average 20 hours/week, March–November
Salary equates to £14.60 per hour
Predictable hours and structured shifts for a healthy work–life balance
No late-night shifts – finish time is normally by 8pm!
Excellent benefits including life assurance (5x salary), health and wellbeing support app, pro rata of 28 days holiday + bank holidays
Flexibility over the winter months to travel or enjoy other interests
What you’ll be doing
As our Seasonal Chef, you’ll support our Head Chef and play a key role in delivering our catering operations. This will include:
Cooking, kitchen management, and deputising for the Head Chef
Assisting with supervising and supporting the small catering team during daily service
We operate fixed mealtimes with one or two sittings, using simple set menus with two or three food choices.
Your weekly hours will vary across the season, with more during busy periods and fewer in quieter weeks.
Further info regarding the full responsibilities can be found in the vacancy pack attached to the advert on our careers website.
Where you’ll be based
Nettlecombe Court is set within a historic manor estate, surrounded by woodland, open countryside, and beautiful grounds. With its distinctive setting and welcoming atmosphere, it offers a unique place to work and be part of a friendly team throughout the season.
From the character of the manor house to the peaceful surroundings of the estate, Nettlecombe Court is a place where history, outdoor learning, and the natural environment come together.
We’ve been awarded the Soil Association’s Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award, recognising our commitment to serving healthy, nutritious, and sustainable meals. Join us in creating dishes that delight visitors and reflect our commitment to a greener future!
Who we’re looking for
Previous catering experience
Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willingness to complete before starting)
Pride in your work, flexibility, and strong work ethic
Ability to work independently and as part of a team
Enthusiasm for sustainability and the mission of Field Studies Council
Your benefits whilst working with us will include:
Competitive salary
Pro rata of 28 days annual holiday entitlement + bank holidays + extra loyalty days dependent on length of service
Health and Wellbeing Support App
24hr Counselling Helpline Service
Cycle to work and EV schemes
Discounts and cashback opportunities
Flexible working options where roles permit
Quality learning and development opportunities
Ready to apply?
If this sounds like the opportunity you’ve been looking for, we’d love to hear from you!
Applications will be considered on arrival
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we’re in receipt of sufficient applications. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.
If you don’t meet every requirement listed in the person specification, we would still encourage you to apply and tell us about the unique skills and experiences you can bring to the role. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and abilities.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and we expect all team members to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will only be confirmed following the successful completion of rigorous pre-employment checks, including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
We want to create a world where everyone feels connected to the environment so they can enjoy the benefits it gives and make choices that help protect it.
As an Investors in People charity, we realise that to achieve our vision we need diverse teams of staff who have a wide range of skills, a real passion for the work of the charity and pride in their role within it. No matter what role you perform at the Field Studies Council, everyone can make a difference and every role is vital to delivering our mission and vision…if this inspires you, we would love to hear from you.
