Catering Assistant


Company:	Serco Limited
Salary:	£25769-25769 per annum
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Bedford, MK41 6HL
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	4 Aug 2026
Closing date:	3 Sept 2026

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Summary

Location:Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre, Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Rd, Milton Ernest, Bedford MK44 1FD

Salary: £25,769 per annumShift Pattern: 3 days on / 3 days off | 12-hour shifts (7:00 AM – 7:00 PM)

Join Serco at Yarl’s Wood, where your kitchen experience can have real purpose – helping to provide dignity, care, and stability through nutritious meals to people in a challenging time of their lives.This is a busy, high-energy environment that’s ideal if you thrive in a fast-paced kitchen. You’ll fit right in if you’ve worked in roles like kitchen assistant, catering assistant, kitchen crew member, or kitchen team member.

You’ll benefit from:Free onsite parkingFree staff meals every shiftUniform providedComprehensive onsite trainingOvertime paid at time and a half

What you’ll do as a Kitchen Assistant in our team:Support chefs in preparing varied menus, including special diets and culturally appropriate mealsEnsure food safety and hygiene regulations are strictly followedSafely manage food storage, delivery, and

waste disposalRecord food production in line with HACCP, allergen controls, and audit standardsParticipate in quality checks and hospitality servicesUnderstand and support safety, safeguarding, and security procedures

What you’ll need:Experience in a catering or kitchen setting (fast-paced food service environment)Food Safety Level 2 or 3 (or willingness to gain this)Knowledge of HACCP and allergen proceduresGood teamwork, communication, and basic computer skillsFull UK driving licence (essential due to location)

Why Serco?A place you can make an impact – You’ll do interesting work that matters – delivering essential services that touch people’s lives.A place you can count on – Our diverse UK-wide operations offer unrivalled opportunities to learn and develop. You’ll be able to broaden your experience and apply your skills in new ways.A place for you – We’re a motivated team who will encourage you and help you to succeed within a supportive and safe culture.What we offerPension up to 6%Employee Assistance ProgrammeChance to contribute to innovation in public servicesA company passionate about diversity and inclusionA Serco benefits portal offering a wide range of discounts for major high street brands in Retail, Leisure and HospitalityAccess to our employee networks, which support inclusion and connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower diverse groups including LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, veterans, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

About Yarl’s Wood IRCYarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre has been managed by Serco since 2007. It’s a secure facility where women without legal immigration status are held awaiting deportation or a decision on their case. Our centre is dedicated to ensuring a safe, supportive and respectful environment for these women, during one of the most difficult times in their lives.What makes us unique is the diverse community we care for and the specialist services we provide, including welfare and healthcare support; faith and cultural provision; and education, recreation and work opportunities. At Yarl’s Wood, you’ll be part of a team where compassion, innovation, and impact come together making it a truly rewarding place to work.A little bit about SercoAt Serco, we’re a fast-growing company, serving governments around the globe. Our work spans a wide range of sectors including Justice, Immigration, Defence, Leisure, Healthcare, Transport, and Citizen Services. We’re committed to delivering and improving public services for the benefit of everyone, guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride.Our inclusive recruitment process: We see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We’re a Disability Confident Leader, a top three Great British Employer of Veterans, a proud holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard, championing fair access to employment and equal opportunities for all. As such we’re open to flexible working arrangements where possible and we’ll make reasonable adjustments from interview through to employment.As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.We support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may be exempt due to security requirements).Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

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About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.