Artisan Baker (Bread & Pastry)
Location: Wantage, Oxfordshire
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Job Type: Full-time
Join Our Team
The Heritage Bakery is an established artisan bakery supplying high-quality breads, pastries and baked goods to both retail and wholesale customers across Oxfordshire and beyond.
As a SALSA-certified bakery, we pride ourselves on maintaining exceptional standards of food safety, quality and consistency whilst preserving the traditional skills and craftsmanship that define artisan baking.
Due to continued growth and increasing demand, we are seeking an experienced and passionate Artisan Baker to join our production team. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a growing business with ambitious plans for the future.
The Role
Working as part of our bakery production team, you will be involved in all aspects of artisan bread and pastry production, from mixing and fermentation through to baking, finishing and preparation for dispatch.
You will play a key role in maintaining our high product standards whilst contributing to the continued development and success of the bakery.
Key Responsibilities
- Producing a range of artisan breads, rolls, pastries and seasonal products to company specifications
- Mixing, scaling, moulding and shaping doughs using baker's percentage recipes
- Working with sourdough and long-fermentation products
- Monitoring fermentation, proving and baking processes to ensure consistent quality
- Operating bakery equipment including mixers, dividers, moulders and deck ovens
- Preparing and weighing ingredients accurately according to production schedules
- Assisting with daily production planning and stock control
- Packaging and preparing products for retail and wholesale customers
- Maintaining accurate production, cleaning and food safety records
- Supporting stock rotation and ingredient management
- Ensuring compliance with food safety, HACCP and SALSA standards
- Maintaining a clean, safe and organised working environment
- Contributing ideas for new products, seasonal ranges and process improvements
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Minimum two years' experience within a bakery production environment
- Proven artisan bread baking experience
- Good understanding of sourdough production and fermentation techniques
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality
- Strong organisational and time-management skills
- Good understanding of food safety and hygiene requirements
- Reliable, punctual and capable of working in a fast-paced production environment
Desirable
- Experience within a wholesale or commercial artisan bakery
- Knowledge of pastry production
- Experience working within SALSA, BRCGS or similar accredited food production environments
- Experience assisting with product development
Working Hours
This is a full-time position working between 42 and 48 hours per week across Monday to Sunday.
To support both retail and wholesale production requirements, the bakery operates across a range of shift patterns. Shifts may include:
- Day shifts
- Afternoon/evening shifts
- Overnight production shifts
- Early morning bakery shifts
Flexibility to work a variety of shift patterns, including overnight production shifts, is essential.
Additional hours may be available by mutual agreement.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Opportunity for overtime
- Staff discount on bakery products
- Training and development opportunities
- The opportunity to work with a skilled artisan baking team
- A stable, growing business with exciting future plans
Eligibility
Applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.
Immediate start available.
Pay: £16.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
