Job Title: Apprentice Commis Chef - ICC
Salary/Hourly Rate: £26,309 Per year
Location: 8 Centenary Square, ICC, Birmingham, B1 2EA
Reporting to: Head Chef
Hours/Working Pattern: 40 hours per week ( 5 days out of 7) Various shift patterns
Contractual Requirements: Candidates must be aged 18+

We're currently recruiting for an ambitious Apprentice commis chef to join our team and help deliver exceptional experiences for the ICC on a full-time basis, contracted to 40 hours per week.

The International Convention Centre (ICC) is one of the UK's leading conference and events venues, located right in the heart of Birmingham City Centre. It hosts around 400 events each year, welcoming over 350,000 visitors from around the world, creating a vibrant and inspiring place to build your career. With versatile event spaces across 10 conference halls and 10 meeting rooms, the ICC is known for delivering high‑profile conferences, global summits, and major corporate events. The venue sits in a stunning location on Centenary Square, just a short walk from New Street Station, surrounded by Birmingham's cultural landmarks, including the Library of Birmingham and the canalside area of Brindleyplace.

As an apprentice commis chef, you will work alongside a passionate and supportive team, gaining hands-on experience while developing your skills through structured training. In return, you'll have the opportunity to progress your career with a company that invests in its people, celebrates individuality, and rewards and recognises employees who go above and beyond.

The overall purpose of an apprentice commis chef role is to learn and execute the fundamental skills and responsibilities necessary for a career in professional kitchen operations. This includes maintaining impeccable standards of hygiene and presentation in compliance with food safety regulations and health standards. Apprentice chefs assist in the preparation, cooking, and serving of food under the guidance of senior chefs, ensuring adherence to portion control, food safety protocols, and presentation standards. They play a crucial role in maintaining kitchen cleanliness, following "clean as you go" practices, and ensuring proper food storage and disposal. Additionally, apprentices learn through hands-on experience, undertake training from experienced chefs, and contribute enthusiastically as part of a dynamic kitchen team, gaining essential skills in ingredient preparation, cooking techniques, and operational procedures essential for culinary excellence.

On completion of the Apprenticeship, you will achieve the Commis Chef L2 and become a qualified commis chef.

Key Responsibilities

As part of our kitchen team, you will play an essential role in delivering high‑quality food and maintaining excellent hygiene and safety standards. Your responsibilities will include:

Food Preparation & Cooking

• Prepare ingredients such as washing, peeling and chopping, under the guidance of senior chefs.
• Cook and plate dishes following agreed recipes, portion control, and presentation standards.
• Operate kitchen equipment safely, including ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves and fryers, ensuring correct temperatures at all times.
• Assist with food service when required.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain high operational and personal hygiene standards in line with the Food Safety Act.
• Follow all Health & Safety and COSHH regulations.
• Ensure safe storage, handling, and disposal of all food items as directed by the chef in charge.
• Monitor, probe and record temperatures of fridges, freezers, hot cabinets and serveries.
• Strictly follow assured safe catering principles and fridge/decanting discipline.

Kitchen Cleanliness & Organisation

• Keep all work areas clean and tidy, adopting a "clean as you go" approach.
• Set up and close down your workstation each day, ensuring all tools, knives, tables, and equipment are cleaned and sanitised.
• Follow correct opening, closing and handover procedures, with a strong focus on safety and security.

Teamwork & Development

• Work enthusiastically as part of a busy, supportive kitchen team.
• Take part in ongoing training and development from senior chefs.
• Maintain accurate records as required by the chef in charge.

Full training will be provided for all responsibilities.

Our Ideal Apprentice

We're looking for someone who is passionate about food and eager to learn. You'll thrive in our kitchen if you have:

• Excellent customer service skills
• Strong teamwork abilities
• Great attention to detail
• An organised and reliable approach
• A positive, upbeat attitude
• Previous kitchen experience (a bonus, but not essential)

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package including (but not limited to):

• Financial wellbeing programme and preferred rates on salary finance products
• Aviva Digicare - Free annual healthcare check
• Medicash - Discounted health cash plan providing cashback on a range of medical treatments including Dental, Optical and Consultant appointments for you and your family
• Pension scheme and Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Sharebuy Scheme
• Recognition awards including Be a Star peer recognition and Long Service Awards
• Employee networks created and led by employees for employees
• Exclusive Benefits & Wellbeing site (Perks at Work)
• Entertainment, Health & Wellbeing and Travel discounts
• Shopping discounts - Save up to 15% at high street and online stores by purchasing Shopping Cards
• Vodafone discounts
• Ongoing training & development and career pathway

Sector Information: 

Levy is the vibrant and exciting sector of Compass Group, the world's largest catering company. We work at some of the greatest venues in the world, delivering legendary experiences in food, drink, and hospitality. In the UK, we are proud to have a wealth of long-standing partnerships with venues across sport, entertainment, and events. Our partnerships include venues such as Wimbledon, Twickenham, Edgbaston, Tottenham Hotspur, Scottish Event Campus (SEC) and ExCel London. 

We are culinary champions - it's what we do and it's what we are passionate about. At the core of our work is the belief that sustainably sourced great food and drink, coupled with exceptional service is key to creating legendary experiences. Focussed on 'doing the right thing' for our people and the planet. sustainability, wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of what we do. We have a commitment to being Net Zero by 2027, are official partners of the British Paralympic Association, and are proud to pay all our team members at least the Real Living Wage or London Living Wage.

Compass Group UK & Ireland is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive-because diversity is our strength!

As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a short questionnaire and participate in a screening call to determine your eligibility for apprenticeship funding in line with the Department for Education funding rules.

This is a mandatory step of the application process to ensure that you meet the criteria for apprenticeship funding.

Please note: We reserve the right to remove this advert prior to the advertised date, dependent on the level of response received. You are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

As part of Compass you'll help to feed people, fuel progress and forge connections in around 6,000 venues. Join us to grow your career with the industry leader, and get competitive pay, great perks and unrivalled opportunities for learning and development, at one of the UK's biggest businesses.

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!