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Please tell us more about your role and what a typical shift looks like for you? 

I work as a Catering Team Leader in our Harrogate branch. My role is to lead and motivate a team of chefs and caterings assistants in preparing delicious food for our customers. In our Harrogate branch, we have a prep kitchen which is where items are prepared, for example, sandwich fillings and salad preparation, or making up rösti mix. These are then taken through to our service kitchen where the dishes are cooked up and put together, ready for service.

Each member of my team is set a list for their section and for what food items need to be prepped for the day ahead. A key part of my role is ensuring everything is made to our recipes and specifications, following our processes, and that presentation is as it should be.

There are usually eight to ten people in a catering team and a typical shift is eight and a half hours long with a one-hour break for lunch, five days a week, with one day a week on a weekend.

Outside the kitchen, Catering Team Leaders also place the food produce orders with our suppliers and from our Bakery.

What are the key skills you need in your role? 

As well as the technical kitchen skills needed, people management is important to ensure everyone is clear about which sections they are working on and what tasks are needed for each day. A key focus for me is ensuring the team is happy and working to their full potential, whilst also supporting them to develop their skills on the job as well.

It’s vital to be well organised and good communication is essential because you’re working with colleagues from across the branch, in both Front of House and Back of House roles, to ensure key information is being transferred across to them efficiently. Being patient and resilient are also key attributes because there are times when things don’t go quite to plan, and you must be adaptable to find a solution whilst always maintaining our high-quality food standards.

What do you enjoy most about working here? 

I enjoy working alongside others who are as passionate about catering as I am. Even though it can get very busy, having a proactive team around you who work hard together, and support each other is great because everyone wants to do well and deliver the best possible service and food for our lovely customers!

Having the opportunity to progress through the company is also a very fulfilling part of the job because this gives you something to work towards, knowing that if you put the effort in, you will be recognised for this. I started as a Catering Assistant and within two years, I interviewed for the Catering Team Leader role and was successful in securing that position. It was so rewarding to know that all my hard work had paid off, and that the business saw further potential in me.

What are the key challenges and opportunities for you in the next 12 months? 

My focus is on gaining more experience in my role and becoming more independent, allowing myself to learn what works well and what doesn’t, while still using the support of my fellow managers if needed. It’s also important to ensure I’m up to date with all the food and drink items, so if anyone is unsure about something, I can show them how to do it.

In terms of opportunities, I am studying a Senior Chef Production course at York College (through an apprenticeship) which will allow me to apply my learnings from the course into the kitchen and evaluate how to adapt it to my surroundings.

What makes working at Bettys & Taylors special? 

The potential for career development. I honestly believe if you work hard in your job role, you will progress. Whether you’re working in the kitchen, serving customers in the tea rooms or baking and learning craft skills in the Bakery, the business supports you to develop and be the best version of yourself.

There are also a variety of internal training courses which you can do that support your understanding and learning to maximise your ability to work and keep food standards high.