Commis Chef Apprentice

Summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic apprentice who would like to learn the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to become a qualified Commis Chef. You will get involved with all aspects of running a busy kitchen, such as stock management, pre-service prep, cleaning, cooking to order, creating specials and using fresh ingredients.

Wage

£13,741 to £22,222.20, depending on your age

National Minimum Wage

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

You will be paid at least the minimum for your age. You will be provided with a uniform, 20% staff discount on food and drink and a fair share of tips in addition to wages.

Training course

Commis chef (level 2)

Hours

4 Days in work, 3 days off on a rota basis, working hours to include off-the-job training such as attending college. Shifts to be confirmed.

35 hours a week

Start date

Saturday 6 September 2025

Duration

1 year 3 months

Positions available

2

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

These are example duties and not a full list. Full training is provided, and your duties will expand as your skills develop:

Planning and preparation - chefs will be expected to plan the day ahead, including summarising from previous days, what worked and what didn't and adjusting accordingly. We have daily specials to put together based on dates of food and quantities to be used to minimise waste
Section / station running and assisting - each station will be manned by the chefs, and each will rotate to ensure we keep knowledge and skills current and to ensure confidence grows within the team. The stations include sweets, starters, grill and pass
Cleaning down - We pride ourselves on setting high standards of cleanliness
The kitchen does not finish until all areas have been cleaned, all food labelled, all waste disposed of preparation for the following day is complete and paperwork is filled out as required

Where you'll work

THORNCLIFFE
LEEK
ST13 7LP

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

College or training organisation

UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Your training course

Commis chef (level 2)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents

Selects correct knife for task.
Uses knives effectively and efficiently.
Selects ingredients of the right quality that support sustainability and seasonality.
Weighs, measures, and scales ingredients.
Cooks from fresh producing complete dishes.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes meat, offal, game, poultry, fish, and shellfish from whole; trim, de-vein, portion, break down, bone, skin, fillet, shell.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes fruit vegetables.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes sauces.
Prepares, cooks and finishes pureed and cream soup and stock based dishes.
Prepares and cooks noodles, and fresh or convenience pasta.
Prepares and cooks pulses and grains, including long and short grain rice.
Prepares, cooks and finishes eggs or egg based dishes.
Prepares, cooks and finishes leavened and unleavened dough products.
Prepares, cooks and finishes sweet and savoury pastry products using short, sweet, and choux.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes scones, biscuits, sponge cakes, and non-sponge cakes.
Prepares, produces, and finishes hot and cold desserts.
Stuffs, fills and panés across food types.
Prepares and cooks dishes using alternative ingredients eg plant based, gluten free.
Prepares fresh ingredients, including from whole, using them across a menu to reduce waste and improve sustainability
Uses seasoning, spices, rubs, and marinades to flavour ingredients.
Sears, grills, deep fries, shallow fries, stir fries, sautés, braises, stews, bakes, roasts, boils, poaches across food types.
Portions, plates, finishes, garnishes, and presents individual dishes.
Exercises portion control and acts to maximise yield.
Achieves intended quality in terms of texture, flavour, and appearance
Identifies and resolves errors during the production process.
Assists in the resolution of feedback, complaints, and issues.
Prepares, cleans and uses manual and electrical food-preparation and cooking equipment and machinery safely, correctly and efficiently.
Applies food safety and allergen procedures, including monitoring temperatures, during preparation, cooking, and holding.
Selects and applies hygiene management techniques to maintain a safe clean work environment, including personal hygiene, PPE, and uniform.
Complies with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
Undertakes stock control, storage, and rotation.
Applies food safety and allergen procedures, and monitors and records food temperatures, on delivery and in storage.
Follows equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and organisational policies.
Uses techniques for maintaining good mental health and wellbeing to support self and others, including asking for and giving help with daily tasks.
Communicates with colleagues, manager and other stakeholders in a professional manner.
Works as part of a team to support service delivery.
Uses feedback to improve own performance.
Manages own time to ensure tasks are completed.
Selects correct knife for task.
Uses knives effectively and efficiently.
Selects ingredients of the right quality that support sustainability and seasonality.
Weighs, measures, and scales ingredients.
Cooks from fresh producing complete dishes.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes meat, offal, game, poultry, fish, and shellfish from whole; trim, de-vein, portion, break down, bone, skin, fillet, shell.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes fruit vegetables.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes sauces.
Prepares, cooks and finishes pureed and cream soup and stock based dishes.
Prepares and cooks noodles, and fresh or convenience pasta.
Prepares and cooks pulses and grains, including long and short grain rice.
Prepares, cooks and finishes eggs or egg based dishes.
Prepares, cooks and finishes leavened and unleavened dough products.
Prepares, cooks and finishes sweet and savoury pastry products using short, sweet, and choux.
Prepares, cooks, and finishes scones, biscuits, sponge cakes, and non-sponge cakes.
Prepares, produces, and finishes hot and cold desserts.
Stuffs, fills and panés across food types.
Prepares and cooks dishes using alternative ingredients eg plant based, gluten free.
Prepares fresh ingredients, including from whole, using them across a menu to reduce waste and improve sustainability
Uses seasoning, spices, rubs, and marinades to flavour ingredients.
Sears, grills, deep fries, shallow fries, stir fries, sautés, braises, stews, bakes, roasts, boils, poaches across food types.
Portions, plates, finishes, garnishes, and presents individual dishes.
Exercises portion control and acts to maximise yield.
Achieves intended quality in terms of texture, flavour, and appearance
Identifies and resolves errors during the production process.
Assists in the resolution of feedback, complaints, and issues.
Prepares, cleans and uses manual and electrical food-preparation and cooking equipment and machinery safely, correctly and efficiently.
Applies food safety and allergen procedures, including monitoring temperatures, during preparation, cooking, and holding.
Selects and applies hygiene management techniques to maintain a safe clean work environment, including personal hygiene, PPE, and uniform.
Complies with health and safety legislation, regulations, guidelines and procedures.
Undertakes stock control, storage, and rotation.
Applies food safety and allergen procedures, and monitors and records food temperatures, on delivery and in storage.
Follows equity, diversity and inclusion legislation and organisational policies.
Uses techniques for maintaining good mental health and wellbeing to support self and others, including asking for and giving help with daily tasks.
Communicates with colleagues, manager and other stakeholders in a professional manner.
Works as part of a team to support service delivery.
Uses feedback to improve own performance.
Manages own time to ensure tasks are completed.

Your training plan

Commis Chef level 2 Apprenticeship Standard:

You will attend college weekly at the Buxton Campus. College transport is available, including a free shuttle bus from the Leek Campus
You will also learn skills around health and safety laws, allergy awareness and food safety
In addition to college training, you will have lots of one-to-one training in the workplace from chefs and receive coaching and mentoring from the proprietor, Simon, who has a wealth of knowledge about running a successful business
You will also be visited in the workplace by a college instructor-mentor who will discuss your progress and ensure you're on track
Apprentices without level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths or equivalent (GCSE grade 4/C or equivalent, or above) will need to achieve this level prior to taking the end-point assessment

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE or equivalent in:

English (grade 4/C or above)
Maths (grade 4/C or above)

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
Problem solving skills
Administrative skills
Logical
Team working
Creative
Initiative
An interest in the industry
Ability to learn from peers
A desire to learn

Other requirements

Please consider how you will get to work each day.

About this company

My fiancé and I decided we wanted to open the pub/restaurant back in December 2022. Becky had previously managed in the industry for 2 years whilst I had spent several years as a leadership development coach and consultant. We both have a passion for people and great food, so concluded that opening a pub/restaurant would be the ideal fit to satisfy our needs and goals. We are keen on providing an environment that serves good food, good drink, and with good company. The menu that the chefs have produced reflects our flexibility and respect for all our customers. We are keen to serve traditional classics whilst providing our chefs the opportunity to use their creative skills when producing daily specials for all. We want to ensure that we understand our customers and can demonstrate our loyalty as we evolve, “We have listened to feedback and feel like we have a good understanding of what is important to customers.” Loyalty, integrity, and respect for others are values we both feel will underpin our success with both staff and customers. Our restaurant has a welcoming feel to it, as well as a few exciting new additions to the bar and restaurant areas, we still have our oak beams, stone walls, and a traditional oak floor really sets the tone for what we want to look like and how we want our customers to feel.

http://www.thereforminn.co.uk (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

We expect the apprentice will stay with us on a full-time basis, should there be availability and the candidate prove to be a right fit for the business

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

UNIVERSITY OF DERBY

Apprenticeships Team

feapprenticeships@blc.ac.uk

08000740099

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000301806.

Apply now

Closes in 24 days (Thursday 31 July 2025)

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

Please apply through Buxton & Leek College.

Cookies on Find an apprenticeship

Contents