General Assistant (with Butchery Training) – Northleach – WJ Castle Butchers & Delicatessen
Position: General Assistant
Location: Northleach, Cotswolds
Hours: 40 hours – 5 days per week, with weekend availability
About Us:
WJ Castle Butchers & Delicatessen, part of the Jesse Smith & WJ Castle family-run business established in the 1800s, is renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality and exceptional service. With a presence in 6 retail shops across the Cotswolds, as well as a production kitchen and a wholesale catering department, we take pride in providing top-tier products and experiences to our customers.
The Opportunity:
We are currently seeking a dynamic and customer-focused General Assistant to join our team in Northleach. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to build a broad, hands-on career in food retail — you'll work across our counter and deli operations while receiving structured training in traditional butchery skills from our experienced team.
The Role:
As a General Assistant, you'll support the day-to-day running of the shop across both the deli and butchery counters. This includes serving our food to go range — hot rotisserie sandwiches, pulled pork buns, handmade pies and pasties, quiches, pâtés, salads and drinks — alongside learning the fundamentals of butchery, from product preparation to counter service. This is a diverse role with genuine progression potential for the right candidate, and we welcome your own ideas on how we can strengthen our offering and brand with quality artisan produce.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide outstanding customer service and expertly serve customers across the deli and butchery counters.
- Receive on-the-job training in core butchery skills, working alongside our skilled butchers.
- Collaborate with the store manager to manage stock inventory and ensure product freshness.
- Strictly adhere to HACCP guidelines to maintain food safety standards.
- Contribute to the presentation of the counters by stocking, cutting, and displaying items.
- Prepare and serve customers, and assist with tills when needed.
- Support general shop duties as required, gaining broad experience across the business.
Qualifications and Attributes:
- A passion for delivering exceptional customer service.
- Willingness to learn new skills, including traditional butchery techniques.
- Effective time management skills.
- Strong work ethic and a proactive, hands-on approach.
- A genuine enthusiasm for food.
- Previous experience in a high-end food retail environment is desirable but not essential — full training provided for the right candidate.
If you are enthusiastic, keen to develop new skills, and believe you would be a perfect fit for our team, we invite you to get in touch with us today. Your dedication and expertise will contribute to our tradition of excellence at WJ Castle Butchers & Delicatessen in Northleach.
Pay: From £12.71 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Flexitime
- On-site parking
- Store discount
Experience:
- Customer service: 1 year (required)
Work Location: In person
