RAF Chef - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

Royal Air Force

Peterborough, PE1 1TB

Closes on Saturday 30 August

Posted on 22 August 2024

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Contents

Summary

An opportunity to complete an apprenticeship as an RAF Chef with an OFSTED outstanding training provider. You'll be working in kitchens across the UK and around the world that play a key part in the UK's defence, where you'll prepare attractive menus, learn how to manage your workstation, and work in a fast-paced kitchen.

Annual wage
£25,200 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Production chef (level 2)
Hours
Days and shifts to be confirmed on assignment to your first station after training.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

2 years

Positions available

30

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

The RAF Chef training program will provide you with the required organisational, time management, communication and number skills you'll require to stay calm under pressure.

You can be employed in various environments; in military kitchens where you will work with the industrial partner to prepare hotel standard fare and provide gastronomy dining experiences for military personnel; in a field kitchen providing catering support for exercises and operations worldwide; or in an in-flight catering production kitchen producing meals for fast jet pilots, helicopter crews and large aircraft crew and passengers travelling to all corners of the globe.

With experience, you could volunteer to work in our VIP Team and cook for high-ranking officers, government ministers and even members of the Royal Family. If selected, you could compete in
culinary competitions and eventually gain an invitation to represent the Royal Air Force on the Combined Services Culinary Arts Team who compete internationally against the best industry chefs in the world.

Your day-to-day tasks will vary dependent on your role, but they will include;

  • Working with the strategies of our industrial partners to prepare attractive menus that meet set standards
  • Following specifications to maintain quality and control, adhering to hygiene, health and safety regulations whilst instilling a knowledge of allergens, nutrition and diets so you can cater to the diverse Royal Air Force family

Where you’ll work

Peterborough

PE1 1TB

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Your training course

Production chef (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents
  • Check, prepare, assemble, cook, regenerate, hold and present food meeting the needs of the customers and maintaining organisational standards and procedures.
  • Use kitchen tools and equipment correctly to produce consistently high quality dishes according to specifications.
  • Take responsibility for the cleanliness, organisation and smooth running of the work area.
  • Produce dishes to suit individuals’ specific dietary, religious and allergenic  needs as required.
  • Operate within all regulations, legislation and procedural requirements.
  • Complete and maintain documentation to meet current legislative guidelines.
  • Use effective methods of communication with all colleagues, managers and customers to promote a positive image of yourself and the organisation.
  • Work in a fair and empathetic manner to support team members while offering a quality provision.
  • Work to ensure customer expectations are met.
  • Work collaboratively to uphold the vision, values and objectives of the organisation.
  • Use technology appropriately.
  • Maintain quality and consistency in food production by using resources in line with organisations’ financial constraints, style, specifications and ethos.
  • Identify own learning style, personal development needs and opportunities and take action to meet those needs.
  • Use feedback positively to improve performance. 

    • Your training plan

    • Production Chef Level 2
    • Functional skills in maths and English (if required)
    • On successful completion of the application and selection process, your apprenticeship will start with a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you’ll also learn about the RAF lifestyle
    • Your specialist training will begin at the Food Services Training Wing at Worthy Down. This 14-week course will train you to maintain excellent standards of personal, food and kitchen hygiene whilst using specialist kitchen equipment to produce a variety of dishes
    • You will also undertake a 10-day Introduction to Deployed Operations with No 3 Mobile Catering Squadron (3 MCS) where you will be trained to set up field kitchens under canvas, this skill will enable you to provide catering support to deployed operations worldwide as well as supporting exercises both based in the UK and abroad

    Requirements

    Desirable qualifications

    Other in:

    • None (grade None)

    Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

    Skills

    • Communication skills
    • Attention to detail
    • Organisation skills
    • Customer care skills
    • Presentation skills
    • Number skills
    • Team working
    • Creative
    • Initiative
    • Physical fitness

    Other requirements

    The role is varied and, after training, you could be stationed across the UK and beyond.

    About this company

    The Royal Air Force work with our UK and international partners to watch the skies, respond to threats, prevent conflict, and provide assistance in an uncertain world. We provide all personnel with a varied range of training and activities to make sure you're ready for anything. A career in the Royal Air Force will provide you with a whole host of possibilities. You will receive world class training, allowing you to learn and develop throughout your career. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore the closing and start dates.

    https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)

    Company benefits

    Pay will increase incrementally each year.

    After this apprenticeship

    The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the Royal Air Force. Promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is dependent on successful completion of the apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF.

    Ask a question

    The contact for this apprenticeship is:

    ROYAL AIR FORCE

    0345 6055555

    The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000272974.

    Apply now

    Closes on Saturday 30 August

    When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

    After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

    Company’s application instructions

    You'll be directed through to the RAF Recruitment Website where more detail on the role is available. We have positions available for this role throughout the year and the process can take a few months. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.