Every role at Lily’s helps bring our mission to life. As a Kitchen Support Worker, you’ll help run the kitchen at our Guildhall Street Cafe while supporting and training our team of trainees, apprentices, and colleagues.
* Pay: £12.21 - £13.59 per hour, depending on experience
* Hours: Part-time hours available - flexibility to be agreed with the successful candidates. Regular weekend work is a must, but hardly any evening shifts.
* This is a permanent position and we are looking to recruit 2 - 3 people
In this role, you will:
* Prepare sandwiches, salads, and pre-ordered lunch items
* Support catering orders such as corporate lunches, including packaging and presentation
* Oversee the smooth day-to-day running of the kitchen space
* Support room hire, catering set-ups or deliveries as needed
* Train and guide others in safe and simple food prep tasks
* Order stock, keep kitchen records up to date, and maintain a clean and safe working environment
* Coach and work alongside our trainees during their shifts to ensure they are at the heart of everything we do
* Help us relaunch our successful Cookery Session project
* Safeguarding is central to this role, and you’ll be expected to support and protect the wellbeing of our trainees, who are at the heart of everything we do.
* You don’t need to be a chef - just someone who enjoys preparing food, likes things organised, and cares about helping others learn.
About you: Essential (must have):
* A love of food and confidence in preparing simple dishes
* Comfortable leading a small team in a kitchen setting
* Organised and able to keep digital records (e.g. fridge temps, order logs)
* Friendly and supportive when training others
* Able to work within food safety and hygiene procedures
* Be able to complete our induction training by an agreed-upon timeline
* Willing to provide information for our Safer Recruitment check (2 x references and an Enhanced DBS)
Desirable (nice to have, but not required):
* Experience working in a café, kitchen or food business
* Experience in training or mentoring others
* Experience in social care
* Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (or willing to complete)
What we offer:
* Work-Life Balance: Enjoy fewer evenings and consistent scheduling
* A flexible and inclusive workplace
* Real opportunities for development and progression
* 5 days of company sick pay when you pass your probation
* Holiday bonus with length of service from your 3rd year anniversary
* 50% staff discount in our cafes and staff meals while on shift
* Enrolment into a workplace pension scheme (in line with statutory requirements)
* Meaningful work that supports our community
Who we are at Lily’s:
At Lily’s, we believe food has the power to change lives. Based in Kent, we’re a social enterprise serving up more than just great coffee and catering - we’re creating real work opportunities for people who might otherwise be left out of the job market.
Our amazing team includes trainees who are neurodivergent or have learning disabilities, gaining hands-on experience in our cafés, kitchens and at events. Every shift is a chance to grow skills, build confidence, and be part of something that matters.
We’re a flexible employer with a big heart - committed to inclusion, wellbeing, and fair recruitment. Whether you’re in the kitchen, on the road, or out front with our customers, you’ll be helping make the world a little fairer (and tastier) one plate at a time.
Our commitment to inclusion and safer recruitment
Lily’s Social Kitchen CIC is an inclusive employer. We particularly welcome applications from neurodivergent people and those with lived experience of barriers to employment.
We follow safer recruitment practices. This means we ask for references and will carry out a DBS (criminal record) check. A past conviction will not necessarily be a barrier to working with us - we are open to confidential conversations and consider every applicant individually. Lily’s Social Kitchen CIC - Job Advert - May ‘25
Application Process Timeline:
● Advert closing date: 10 am Thursday 12th of June
● Shortlisting completed by: Friday 13th of June
● Interviews held on: Week commencing Monday 16th of June
● Outcome communicated by: Monday, 23rd of June
● Proposed start date: Early to mid-July
We can offer flexibility with interview times and formats. If you need any adjustments to help you take part in the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply, even if you do not know what the specific adjustment is.