Job Description

Reach for Remarkable

Chef – Start Your Culinary Career with Purpose at RAF Leeming

Location: RAF Leeming, Gatenby, Northallerton, DL7 9NJ
Pay: £13.32 per hour
Contract: Permanent, fulltime – 40 hours per week, 5 days over 7
Shift times: Structured shifts between 06:30 and 20:00 – so your evenings stay free

Build your skills. Gain experience. Make a difference.

Looking for your next step in the kitchen — or a place to properly start your chef career?

As a Chef at RAF Leeming, you’ll join a supportive, experienced team delivering great food to the Armed Forces community.

This role is ideal for early career chefs or those still developing their confidence, offering a structured environment, strong leadership, and genuine opportunities to learn and progress — all with a rare worklife balance for hospitality.

At Aramark UK, we believe in growing talent. Many of our senior chefs started exactly where you are now.

What you’ll be learning and doing

• Working alongside experienced chefs, you’ll develop your skills in a professional kitchen environment:
• Preparing and cooking breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes
• Supporting fine dining service for functions and special events
• Learning and following recipe cards to deliver consistent, high-quality food
• Supporting stock checks, deliveries, and kitchen records
• Learning food safety standards, temperature controls, and due diligence
• Helping with daily and weekly kitchen cleaning to keep standards high
• Being supported and coached to grow your confidence and capability

What we’re looking for

• A passion for food and a desire to grow as a chef
• A basic or relevant culinary qualification (706/1, 706/2 or equivalent) — or working towards one
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn
• Good teamwork, reliability, and pride in your work
• UK residency for the past 3 years (required for security vetting)
• Ability to pass security clearance and DBS checks
• We welcome applications from early career chefs and those looking for structured development.

Why start your career with Aramark UK?

• iscounted meals on site
• Free onsite parking
• Employee Benefits App – Online GP, EAP support & hundreds of discounts
• Generous holiday allowance
• Pension scheme and life assurance
• Clear progression routes — many chefs move up quickly
• Apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and ongoing development.

Your future starts here

If you’re motivated to learn, enjoy working as part of a team, and want a chef role that offers structure, support, and real career prospects, this is a fantastic place to start.

Apply now and begin your culinary journey with Aramark UK.

About Aramark UK

At Aramark UK, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to thrive. As a proud  Disability Confident and  Forces Friendly employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all abilities and are dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities throughout their career journey. 

We ensure our recruitment process is accessible, and reasonable adjustments are available at every stage, from application to interview and employment. If you require any accommodations or have any questions, please reach out to our recruitment team – careers@aramark.co.uk.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. 

If you are applying for this role and you already work for Aramark, you must notify your line manager before submitting your application. 

Job reference: 647924.